Friday, June 28, 2013

Passing This On

OK, this made me cry and I know a lot of you have seen this but I want to keep this handy and refer to it or send it to others.

Christine



When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet. Cranky Old ManWhat do you see nurses? ……What do you see?What are you thinking .. . when you’re looking at me?A cranky old man, … …not very wise,Uncertain of habit .… … . .. with faraway eyes?Who dribbles his food .. . … . . and makes no reply.When you say in a loud voice . .’I do wish you’d try!’Who seems not to notice …the things that you do.And forever is losing … …… A sock or shoe?Who, resisting or not … … lets you do as you will,With bathing and feeding … .The long day to fill?Is that what you’re thinking?. .Is that what you see?Then open your eyes, nurse .you’re not looking at me.I’ll tell you who I am … . .. As I sit here so still,As I do at your bidding, .… . as I eat at your will.I’m a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,Brothers and sisters .… .. . who love one anotherA young boy of Sixteen … .. with wings on his feetDreaming that soon now …… a lover he’ll meet.A groom soon at Twenty … ..my heart gives a leap.Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.At Twenty-Five, now … . .I have young of my own.Who need me to guide … And a secure happy home.A man of Thirty . .… . . My young now grown fast,Bound to each other …. With ties that should last.At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,But my woman is beside me . . to see I don’t mourn.At Fifty, once more, .. …Babies play ‘round my knee,Again, we know children … . My loved one and me.Dark days are upon me … . My wife is now dead.I look at the future … … . I shudder with dread.For my young are all rearing .… young of their own.And I think of the years … And the love that I’ve known.I’m now an old man … … .. and nature is cruel.It’s jest to make old age … … . look like a fool.The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.There is now a stone … where I once had a heart.But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,And now and again … . . my battered heart swellsI remember the joys … . .. . I remember the pain.And I’m loving and living … … . life over again.I think of the years, all too few …. gone too fast.And accept the stark fact … that nothing can last.So open your eyes, people .… . .… open and see.Not a cranky old man .Look closer … . see .. .…. …. . ME!!Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM!The best and most beautiful things of this world can’t be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!Very Respectfully,Scott Sonnon www.breathinggift.com (My free book and video gift to you.)
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? ……What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, … …not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .… … . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . … . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .’I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice …the things that you do.
And forever is losing … …… A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not … … lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding … .The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am … . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .… . as I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .… .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen … .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now …… a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty … ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now … . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide … And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .… . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other …. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. …Babies play ‘round my knee,
Again, we know children … . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me … . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future … … . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .… young of their own.
And I think of the years … And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man … … .. and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age … … . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone … where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again … . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys … . .. . I remember the pain.
And I’m loving and living … … . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few …. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact … that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .… . .… open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer … . see .. .…. …. . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM!
The best and most beautiful things of this world can’t be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

10 comments:

  1. This literally brought tears to my eyes. I am there now, and it is so true. We need to see and understand. Thank you for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So profound! I often look at elder citizens with wonder at who they were and all they have done, said, been, in their long lives. Such a great reminder that INSIDE they are still young and vital - and their worth is not diminished by their age - but enhanced.
    Joy!
    Kathy

    ReplyDelete
  3. As you said, I have seen this before on facebook, but it never fails to bring a tear to my eye. I remember my great-grandmother at 94 years of age saying to me that inside she was still 16. Older people have so much to teach us and give to us. They should never be brushed aside. And I'm not just saying this because I am getting older and getting to be "old". I have always believed this. It's so important to sit with an older person and just listen!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Christine... thank you so much for this! I had wonderful grandparents who were a huge part of my life and as they grew older, I learned a lot watching them. I now minister to older women at my church! In fact, one of my BEST friends is going on 79! I do see THEM! What a great reminder for all of us though! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. If my mom hasn't already been here and read this, I'm sending her this way. This is a message I have heard her try to express about the aged. It was beautiful and made want to cry.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Christine
    It makes my heart so sad,
    But it's such a good reminder of the value of our older generation and that we need to show them the love and respect they deserve.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I had not seen this, Christine. Powerful reminder to all of us. So sad, too... Thank you for sharing this beautiful poem. blessings ~ tanna

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my gosh how startling is this poem! It will certainly make me look closer at all seniors, what's in their hearts, and the wisdom they have to share.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful.... it's a great reminder to see past the body to the heart, no matter who and what age!

    ReplyDelete
  10. AMEN!! How many times did I try to tell nurses this kind of thing when they neglected my husband while he was in nursing facilities?! Thus the reason I brought him back home! I'm copying this and sending to them.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails