Once I Cared For People Who Were Old

Once I cared for people who were old Who wet themselves and felt the winter cold I gave them baths and washed their backs and fronts Helped them to get dressed and zip their pants I made them pots of tea and gave them cake I gave them dinner on a china plate I listened to their stories of the past An unknown world of war and terrors vast And if they cried I’d wipe away their tears Talk to them till sorrow disappeared I’d do the washing up and clean the knives The women missed their being someone’s wife Now I am old and I have realised I really had no feel for what it’s like.