Crabby Old Woman


When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near
Dundee, Scotland, it was believed that she had nothing left of any
value. 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.
One nurse took her copy to Ireland. The old lady's sole bequest to
posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News
Magazine of the North Ireland Assn. for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent poem.

And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the
world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the
Internet:

Crabby Old Woman

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 stocking or shoe
Who, resisting or not
Lets you do as you 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 at 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 secure happy home.

A woman of thirty,
My young now grown 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 round my knee,
Again we know children,
My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me,
My husband is dead,
I look at the future,
I 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 girl 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!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an old person who you might
brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one
day, be there, too !


Poignant, huh?

I know that this sounds like we are just temporary residents on this earth. God never intended that to be the case, because he built us with everlasting life in view. Scientist have not found the reason we are all aging and dying, some sooner, some later. But we all have a chance for everlasting life here on earth, where we should be. Soon God will decide that Satan has had enough time to try to rule the world, and he will be destroyed, and all wickedness with him. Can you just picture how happy you would be, living a life that is free of pain, sorrow, or wickedness. No wars, no strife, no locks on our doors, because the ones that we are trying to protect ourselves against will not be here.

You know how divided the world is now - deep divisions caused by racial prejudice, false religion, hatred, jealousy, and all these negative things. Now in the paradise earth, love for God will be first. And following closely behind, is loving your neighbor. It is something to strive for now, so that we will be able to live on a paradise earth, with everlasting life in view. Seeing the people that have died will be resurrected and share in bringing the earth back from the brink of disaster that we are on right now.

Tina