What Do You See

I found this old poem while helping to clean out a house that was vacant. I hope you don't mind that I didn't write it but it was too awesome not to post. Enjoy-------- What Do You See What do you see, nurses? What do you see? What are you thinking when your looking at me? A crabby old women, not very wise. Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes. Who dribbles her food and makes no reply. When you say with your 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 unresisting or not lets you do as you will. When bathing and feeding, the long day to fill. Is that what your thinking, is that what you see? Then open your eyes nurse, your not looking at me. I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still. As I drink at your bidding, as I sit 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 bride soon at 20. my heart gives a leap. Remembering the vows I primised to keep. At 25 now I have young of my own. Who need me to build a secure happy home. A women of 30, my young now grow fast. Bound to each other with ties that should last. At 40 my young sons near grown will be gone. But my man stays beside me to see I don't mourn. At 50 once 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 and shudder with dread. For my young ones are busy rearing young of their own. And I think of the years and the love that I've known. I'm an old women now and nature is cruel. It's 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 battered heart swells. I remember the joys, I remember the pain. And I'm loving and loving life over again. I think of the years, all the few--gone to fast. And accept the stark fact that nothing can last. So open your eyes nurses, open and see. Not a crabby old women, look closer, see ME. This poem was found among the effects of a patient who died at the Oxford University Geriatric Service in England. Author is unknown.