L Milton Hankins Poet Rispetto

Plight of the Elderly

Suppose all around you suddenly vanished,
And you realized you were standing alone
In the twilight of your years feeling banished
Like a pilot-less, rudder-less, helpless drone.
You knew your life was mystifyingly dreamed
With many questions and answers few,
You know everything was not as it seemed
And you scarcely know exactly what to do.

The lot of many elderly in our nursing homes
Removed from the familiar, in a strange place
Victims of memory loss and various syndromes
Suddenly feeling like they are in outer space.
Many spend their last days lonely and sad
Feeling unwanted and deserted, I am told,
And some of these places are horribly bad
It makes me fight to keep from getting old!

Appeared in "It's Still Poetry"
Poetry Soup Anthology - 2021

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Richard Colbert February 3, 2022 at 2:16 PM I just read this in "It's Still Poetry". Wonderful, insightful and so terribly true. I sometimes feel that in the forest of life, I'm surrounded by clear cutting and there's not many old oaks standing. This is one of my favorites, Well done, Milton. L Milton Hankins February 3, 2022 at 3:57 PM Thank you so much, Richard. I'm so happy you purchased and are reading the anthology. It's a good, albeit rather large, volume of poetry!

Caren Krutsinger September 20, 2021 at 11:08 AM This is what keeps me on my toes "Victims of memory loss and various syndromes Suddenly feeling like they are in outer space." Perfecto! L Milton Hankins September 20, 2021 at 1:34 PM Thanks, Caren. We all need to be watchful, especially those of us in the later years.

Nancy Kaufman September 19, 2021 at 12:56 PM It's been proven that the elderly thrive when they can remain in their own homes. The costs: financially and emotionally are horrific. We should go back to the days of extended families living together with separate quarters if they are at all compatible. L Milton Hankins September 19, 2021 at 2:11 PM Oh, I agree with you wholeheartedly, Nancy. I've heard the average person lives only about two years after they go into a nursing home. So, if that's the case, it's sort of like a death sentence.

Joanna Daniel September 19, 2021 at 2:11 AM Yeah, those old age homes are truly lonely places to be...thought-provoking write, Milton:) L Milton Hankins September 19, 2021 at 8:34 AM Thank you, Jo. I appreciated your read and your comment.

Delice Arleen Skelly September 17, 2021 at 4:06 AM You have reminded me how lucky I am at this point in my life, thank you Milton...Delice L Milton Hankins September 17, 2021 at 8:05 AM I do feel lucky, too, Delice. I'm 80 years old (in December) and I'm still able to live in my own home and take care of myself.

Lindsay Laurie September 16, 2021 at 9:56 PM Hello Milton ... a truer poem for the elderly in-firmed I have never read. It's a job of looking after them only few can truly do - thank you Milton - Lindsay L Milton Hankins September 17, 2021 at 8:07 AM Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful remark, Lindsay. I really appreciated it.

Sotto Poet September 16, 2021 at 6:29 PM Good health is of the utmost importance in both the body and the mind. Milton, losing one's mind is heartbreaking, and it's agonizing to see a person once a party's heart and soul sitting there completely still. L Milton Hankins September 16, 2021 at 7:03 PM Yes, it is agonizing and heartbreaking, Lasaad. Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments.

Ilene Bauer September 16, 2021 at 4:13 PM You’ve described this situation so well, Milton, and in magnificent rhyme! It is such a sad situation - I sincerely hope I move on to the great beyond before that ever happens to me… L Milton Hankins September 16, 2021 at 4:45 PM Ilene, I suspect that most of elderly folks do. It is a "sad situation" as you point out.

Tom Cunningham September 16, 2021 at 10:26 AM So sad Milton, losing one's mind doesn't bear thinking about, tragic to see folk who were once the life and soul of a party just sitting there staring into space. Good health is everything in body and mind. Tom L Milton Hankins September 16, 2021 at 10:27 AM Yes, indeed, Tom. Thanks so much for your thoughts on this poem. I really appreciated them.