Words of inspiration - Look behind the exterior

What do you see, looking at this photo??

The Crabby old man

What do you see nurses?..........What do you see?

What are you thinking ........When you're looking at me?

A crabby old man,......Not very wise, uncertain of habit with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food......And makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice.....'I do wish you'd try!'

Who seem not to notice.....The things that you do.

And forever is losing......A sock 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 boy of Sixteen......With wings on his feet.

Dreaming that soon..A lover he'll meet.

A groom 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 man 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 woman'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 wife is now 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 man.....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 once I had a heart.

But inside this carcass......A young guy 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 thik 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 man. Look closer..See ME!! 

Written by an old man who died in a geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida. This poem found by the nurses who believed he left nothing of value.

Look beyond the exterior at the young soul within, next time you meet an older person or relative you might normally brush aside. 

One day we will be there too!!!

What do  you see now??

Take care

Steven  :-))