What do you see, nurses
what do you see?
What are you thinking
when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman,
not very wise
uncertain of habit,
with far-away eyes?
Who dribbles her 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 stocking or shoe...
Who, resisting or not
let's you do what you will
with bathing and feeding,
the long day to fill...
Is that what you're thinking?
Is that how 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,
with brothers and sisters
who love one another.
A young girl of sixteen
with wings on her feet
dreaming that soon now
a lover she'll meet.
A bride 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 young woman of thirty
my young now grow fast
bound to each other
with ties that should last.
At forty, my young sons
have grown and are gone,
but my husband's beside me
to see I don't mourn.
At fifty, once more
babies play around my knee
again we know children
my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me
my husband is 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 I have known.
I'm now an old woman...
and nature is cruel,
'tis jest to make old age
look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles
grace and vigor depart.
There is now a stone
where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass
a young girl 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
nurses, open and see
not a crabby old woman
look closer...see ME!
This poem was emailed to the staff at the Area Agency on Aging and touched our hearts deeply. Remember that everyone has something to share and all of us leave a little bit of ourselves for the world to find. Please reach out, embrace the elderly and show appreciation for their “footprints in time.”
The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) private,
not-for-profit charitable organization funded under the Older Americans Act
and the State of Florida Department of Elder Affairs.
Page was last updated on 6/29/2004.
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