Deb Kelly Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

As a nurse, I've visited many nursing homes, and witnessed many souls, sitting aimlessly in wheelchairs, or couches-asleep, or sitting there staring into the abyss-no family there at the moment. There has to be a better way, but alas, I haven't found it. This poem projects the future for many of us, I fear. I don't have the answer, do you?

World of Woe

So many times we hear it
But choose not to believe it
So very hard to conceive it
So we let it go.

We watch during visits brief
And satisfy our minds with relief
Though their faces are filled with grief
Mirror the thoughts of “I told you so”.

We pat the hand so small and frail
And ignore the face which always tell
If our hearts would only listen well
Of their inner fears and woes.

When life is long and they decline
We shake our heads and then decide
To place them out of sight and mind
And about our business we go.

Until one day when in a chair we sit
As others come for a brief visit
To pat the hand so small and frail
But ignore the face that always tells
Til out the door to their life they go
And leave us sitting in a world of woe.

© Deborah M. Kelly 
   07/2010

♡Like0

Share Poem

---

Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Ray Zottola July 27, 2021 at 2:02 PM Deb, as I age i often think back when leaving from a visit and think, did I do enough, say enough. In the end, its never enough. I should have done a little more. Oh well! Regrets I've had a few.

Beryl Edmonds July 24, 2021 at 11:47 PM So sad and so true for many folk who end up sat in a chair with nowhere to go being too frail or disabled to do so. My mother suffered from dementia for many years, I’ve written her a memorial poem on the subject which I will be posting later today, titled simply “Mother”… Belle Ray Zottola July 27, 2021 at 2:06 PM I have a poem as well about Mother. Looking forward to reading yours