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Thread: An Old Man.

  1. #1
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    Default An Old Man.

    I have visited my brother in a Care Home for the Belwildered, an Ex Seaman, 85 years old. ex Vindi Boy 1947, Not very pleasant to see him like that. and after just reaching 80 myself I wonder................

    it reminded me of this poem...................

    Here's a nice little poem for all of us to dwell on.

    Ask not for whom the bell tolls.................


    CRABBY OLD MAN

    When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte, Nebraska, 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 Missouri . The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

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


    Crabby Old Man

    What do you see nurses? . . What do you see?
    What are you thinking . . .. . . When you're looking at me?
    A crabby 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 a 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's 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 . . . . . . . .. 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.
    Tis 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 guy 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 crabby old man. Look closer . . . . . see ME!!
    Last edited by Captain Kong; 28th June 2015 at 01:25 PM.

  2. #2
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    Default Re: An Old Man.

    Brian, how poignant.
    last night on the eve of our 58th wedding anniversary, M and I had a few terse words.
    It bothered me to the point that at 3.00am I got up and sent this message to her. (Yoshi is the new pooch, the others are the cockatiels in the large avery and of course the goldfish pond in the garden all recieving her loving attention). This morning forgiveness was apparrent and we went out and enjoyed a happy day.
    In our mid 80s we are so blessed to still have each other and every day with our mental and physical health and mobility remaining intact (though somewhat creaky) is a wonderful bonus that must be savoured, for 'Time hath but little way to fly, and Lo! The bird is on the wing."
    Richard
    Our 58th.jpg
    Our Ship was our Home
    Our Shipmates our Family

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