My mother sends me a whole lot of email jokes, chain letters, and other stuff everyday. I shake my head at some. I laugh profusely at others. The crabby old woman poem actually touched a nerve. You never know what is in someone’s mind, what they are thinking, or what has been their life experiences.
For all of those we observe from afar whether because of physical proximity, spiritual proximity, ethnic proximity, or socioeconomic proximity, ignorance to their reality is the biggest source of misunderstanding. The poem is the perfect encapsulation if sometimes a bit abstract on some some.
Give it a read and share it.
CRABBY OLD WOMAN
When an old woman died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in Moosomin, Saskatchewan, it was believed that she had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through her meager 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 Alberta.
The old woman’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 this simple, but eloquent, poem.
AND THIS LITTLE OLD WOMAN, WITH NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE TO THE WORLD, IS NOW THE AUTHOR OF THIS ‘ANONYMOUS’ POEM WINGING ACROSS THE INTERNET
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 lady .. .. .. 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 sock or a shoe?Who, resisting of not .. .. .. lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding .. .. .. a 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 girl 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,
Remembering the vows .. .. .. that I promised to keep.At Twenty-Five, now .. .. .. I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide .. .. .. 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 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 husband’s now dead.
I look at the future .. .. .. and 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 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, people .. .. .. open and see,
Not a crabby old woman .. .. .. 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.