A Crabbit Old Woman (5)

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GazUK1963
Posted by GazUK1963 on Fri 11 Apr 08, 12:59 AM

What do you see nurse What do you see?
What are you thinking when you Are looking at me.
A crabbit old woman Not very wise.
Uncertain of habit with Far away eyes,
Who dribbles her food & 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
& forever is loosing a Stocking or shoe
Who unresisting or not Bothers you do as you will With bathing & feeding In 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 I use at your bidding As I eat at your will.
I am a small child of ten With a father & mother Brother & sister 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 build A secure happy home.
A woman of thirty my young Now grow fast, Bound to each other with Ties that should last.
At forty my young sons now Grow & will be gone But my man stays 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 my My husband is dead I look to the future & I shudder with dread.
My young are all busy Rearing young of their own & I think of the years & the love that I've known.
I'm an old woman now & nature is cruel It is her jest to make Old age look a fool.
The body it crumbles Grace & vigour departs There is now a stone Where I once had a heart.
But inside this old woman A young girl still dwells & now & again My battered heart swells.
I remember the joys I remember the pain & living & loving Life all over again.
& I think of the years All to few gone to fast
& I accept the stark fact That nothing will last.
So open your eyes nurse Open and see
Not a crabbit old woman, Look closer- See me.

Someone gave me a copy of this at work a few years ago. It is said to have been found in an elderly woman's locker after her death in a geriatric hospital. I have no idea whether that is true or not, but I find it sad and moving all the same.

Gary x.

Replies

11 Apr 08, 6:06 AM
scarletwitch
UK, 11 mths
yes it is very true what you have heard, this poem has been going around for many years and you can usually find it anywhere that cares for elderly people. There is also the reply to that which was written by a nurse, which is equally touching. ill see if i can find it for you

11 Apr 08, 8:04 AM
fen_fatale
UK(CB), 4 yrs
That truly is lovely! i shall be printing it and taking it into work with me; for when my residents moan at me and i feel somewhat frustrated it will be good to have a jog as to why i want to do my job!
nuqDaq yuch Dapol?

11 Apr 08, 8:27 AM
northernwench
UK, 3 yrs
It is indeed genuine; and very moving. The response poem is also excellent, I seem to remember it goes along the lines of 'there are about fifty patients and there is only me here, cut me some slack'
The Ocean

11 Apr 08, 7:51 PM
sweetsurrender1
UK(FY), 3 yrs
This is spooky!!!!
I just today found the poem and copied it for all the staff where I work as a reminder that we should never forget the people we care for had full and active lives and that even though someone cannot communicate to us it does not mean they do not hear.
I first read it as a student nurse many years ago and it moved me to tears.
It was written by a lady that was nursed on an old geriatric ward, she never communicated to the nurses but was often seen scribbling. When she died they found the poem in her bedside locker.
This is the response that a nurse wrote:
A Nurse's reply "To the 'Crabbit Old Woman"
What do we see, you ask, what do we see? Yes, we are thinking when looking at thee! We may seem to be hard when we hurry and fuss, But there's many of you, and too few of us. We would like far more time to sit by you and talk, To bath you and feed you and help you to walk. To hear of your lives and the things you have done; Your childhood, your husband, your daughter, your son. But time is against us, there's too much to do - Patients too many, and nurses too few. We grieve when we see you so sad and alone, With nobody near you, no friends of your own. We feel all your pain, and know of your fear That nobody cares now your end is so near. But nurses are people with feelings as well, And when we're together you'll often hear tell Of the dearest old Gran in the very end bed, And the lovely old Dad, and the things that he said, We speak with compassion and love, and feel sad When we think of your lives and the joy that you've had, When the time has arrived for you to depart, You leave us behind with an ache in our heart. When you sleep the long sleep, no more worry or care, There are other old people, and we must be there. So please understand if we hurry and fuss - There are many of you, And so few of us.

11 Apr 08, 10:20 PM
Xx_pam_xX
18 mths heyyyy!!!!
it is Friday night and between those two poems i am now sat with a sad heart and tears in my eyes...
can someone pass the wine please???
pam x
Flesh@Ceasars - Next event Friday May 30th. Come along and discover your darker side
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