Someone I know sent me this very touching poem. It refers to a nurse, but I’m sure we are all guilty of this to some extent. Do read and do some deep thinking.
Crabby Old Woman
- 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 faraway 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
- 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 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,
- As I make 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 woman 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 man’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 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 that I’ve 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 vigour 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, people,
- Open and see,
-
Not a crabby old woman;
- Look closer – see ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an old person, whether man or woman, who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!
Hi all,
Just to let you all know about this touching poem entitled, “Crabby Old Woman”.
Do read it.
A crabby young man at 53,
That’s me,
The soul is 23,
And the body yearns to climb the hills.
Together with fellow SilverHairs,
I aim to reach 73.
Terence Seah
Thanks for this poem, a good reminder to us SHCians, that aging is ok, and we all should age gracefully, and maaningfully. cheers.
Ooops, #3 the word ‘maaningfully’ is wrongly spelt, fat fingers. Its ‘meaningfully’.
Terence
Only 73? I think you can go further than that. Aim for big fat lady – 80 lah.
Celia Wong.
Aging is not only ok, it’s unavoidable. We can foresee how we will change as we age, but we can control it to some extent.
Actually, what is “aging gracefully”? Can anyone come up with a ‘formula’ or guideline for aging gracefully?
The lesson in the poem is not to treat the aged with distaste and impatience or with loathing as some people are wont to do. I pray that I will not become helpless in my old age.
Yes Mary,
I do pray that I do not become helpless too in my old age indeed. Thanks.
Hi MaryC,
Thanks for the reminder. There are some SHC members struggling to look after their aged parents. I am hoping that someone in SHC can set up a support group for these members.
‘Aging gracefully’ to me
means living each day as a gift.
Stay close to family and friends
and age together holding hands.
Grateful for what I have received in bounty,
sharing with those in difficulty.
When my frail body loses her memory,
it’s time to pack for my new journey
leaving a legacy for friends and family.
Mary Lee (Perth)
Jassmine, come, let’s hear something from u too…now that we hve heard from Terence and Marylee…:-)))
Mary Chan #6:
Greetings
Aging gracefully………Someone said, If there is something in yr life u don’t want, stop worrying abt it n stop talking abt it. The energy u put into it keeps it alive, withdraw yr energy n it will likely go away. U get motivated by doing things, not thinking abt them. What u focus on expands…so think abt what u want. Another One said, Doing what u love is not a recipe for an easier life, it’s a recipe for an interesting life.
Not to treat the aged with distaste and impatience or with loathing…………One afternoon we were having tea at a café in this small town further up in Vancouver and a old lady came by and pat on Derek’s (my fren’s husband) and they chatted and me n my husband was wondering why Derek did not introduced her to us. A short while later an old man came along and apologized to Derek’s for the intrusion. Derek explained later that its common to assumed that the old lady has Alzheimer. In our culture the ‘oldies’ seldom goes out and do things in fear of mishaps………….i sure hope when I am frail and old I will b surrounded by people who will not treat me with distaste and impatience!!
Mary Lee.
Hi. Long time no hear from you. How have you been?
I like your poem on aging gracefully.
Freda Lim
You are right. Focusing on the unwanted ‘stuff’ in our lives is a sheer waste of time and energy. I have learnt to leave my ‘baggage’ behind and enjoy doing the things I love and being with the people I love.
Hi Mary Chan,
You are doing well for SHC – keep up the good work! and you looked so fair & sweet in those photos!
Thanks, I am very well at 53, still kicking & very much alive. Like Freda Lim said, enjoy doing things I love – grow vegetables, fish that big one, dream business, sit on the beach & listen to the ocean, cuppa with a soulmate…we call this ‘tummydrummy’ Yeah the oldies here go out more often – public transport is free during weekends & one free trip within WA each year…these and much more will drive heartaches, headaches, tummyaches, backaches, ‘whatever’ aches away…
Hi Mary,
I agree with what you said. So ….
“Don’t make a cemetery of your life by burying your talents!”
Best Regards, Peng Peng
Hi JuneL @#9
Hmm… bo inspiration leh.