The Elderly-What do you see?

Nursing Students General Students

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What do you see?

"What do you, nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when 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.

Is that what you're thinking?

Is that what you see?

Then, open your eyes . . .

you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am, as I sit here so still,

as I do your bidding, as I eat (at) your will.

I'm a small child of 10 with a father and mother,

brothers and sisters who love one another.

A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet,

dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet.

A bird soon at 20, my heart gives a leap,

remembering the vows (that) I promised to keep.

At 25 now, I have young of my own,

who need me to build a secure, happy home.

A woman of 30, my young . . . grows fast,

bound to each other with ties that should last.

At 40, my young sons have grown and are gone,

but my man's beside me to see I don't mourn.

At 50, 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 to the future, I shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing (the) young of their own,

and I think of the years and the love I have known.

I'm an old woman now, and nature is cruel.

'Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles; grace and vigor depart.

There (now is) a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass, a young girl still dwells,

and now and again, my heart (truly) swells.

I remember the joy, 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, and see . . .

Not a crabby old woman, look closer, see me."

-Author Unknown-or-Is She-

It's amazing how life works !!!!!!! I have been looking for this poem for years. No one seemed to know what i was talking about, since the author is unknown. I last saw it in nursing school and was so sorry that i didn't save it, and here it falls in my lap !!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, BETTS

I LOVE the elderly... and that's EXACTLY what I see....

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