See Me

When an old woman died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North
Platte, Nebraska, it was believed that she had nothing of value left.

Later, when the nurses were going through her meager possessions
they found this poem. It's quality and content so impressed the staff
that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.




And this little old lady, with nothing left to give the world, is now the author of this
'anonymous' poem winging it's way across the internet.


What do you see nurses? . . . . . What do you see?
What are you thinking . . . . . . . .when you're looking at me?
A crabby old woman . . . . . . . . . not very wise,
Uncertain of habit . . . . . . . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles her food . . . . . . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a 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, resisting or not . . . . . . . . .Lets you do as will,
With bathing and feeding . . . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? . . . Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse . . . .You're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am . . . . . . . . . As I sit here so still,
As I do your bidding . . . . . . . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . . . . . . . with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters . . . . . . . . .who love one another.

A young girl of Sixteen . . . . . . .with wings on her feet.
Dreaming that soon now . .. . . a lover she'll meet.
A bride soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows . . . . .that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five now . . . . . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . . . . And a happy secure home.
A woman of Thirty . . . . . . . . . . .My young now growing fast,
Bound to each other . . . . . . .with ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . . have grown and are gone,
But my man's beside me. .. to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more babies . . .play around my knee.
Again, we know children . . . . my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . .my husband is now dead.
I look at the future . . . . . . . shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing . .young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . . .and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old woman . . . . . . . and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles . . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . a young woman still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . . . .my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys . . . . . . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . . . . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people . . . . . . open and see.
Not a crabby old woman . . . .Look closer . . . .see ME.