Mary's Rhyme

50 Posts

Specializes in LTC.

I have a certain lady resident who has a rhyme for everything. Like when I whistle, she says:

"whistlin' girl and a crowin' hen, always comes to some bad end", or

"goodness gracious caught a skunk. goodness gracious, how he stunk.

Recently, while I was taking her to the bathroom and bed, she started reciting this long poem that I thought was very charming. I asked her to say it one line at a time so I could write it down, but before I could finish writing a line, she would forget where she left off. It's strange how some of our older citizens can't remember 2 minutes ago, but they remember every detail of 50 years ago. So, I went and got my cell phone because it has that voice recorder on it. Maybe I'm just sensitive, but she almost made me cry. Well anyway, here's that poem.

THE WOMAN WAS OLD AND RAGGED AND GRAY

AND BENT FROM THE CHILL OF THE WINTER'S DAY

THE STREET WAS WET FROM THE RECENT SNOW

AND THE WOMAN'S FEET WERE AGED AND SLOW

SHE STOOD AT THE CROSSING AND WAITED LONG

ALONE UNCARED FOR AMIDST THE THRONE

OF HUMAN BEINGS THAT PASSED HER BY

THEY HEEDED THE GLANCE OF HER ANXIOUS EYE

THEN DOWN THE STREET

THROUGH THE LAUGHTER AND SHOUT

THERE WERE THE CHILDREN THAT SCHOOL LET OUT

HERE CAME THE BOYS LIKE A FLOCK OF SHEEP