An Old Lady's Poem

I teach nursing in a local BSN program. Yesterday I read to them this poem, written by an old woman before she died in a nursing home. Please read it now. I will make a comment or two afterward.


An Old Lady's Poem

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, nurses, open and see,
Not a crabby old woman; look closer ...see ME!!

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I often ask my students – many of them in their 20s – how long will it be until they are 60. When I asked them yesterday, they told me 40 years. I told them they are wrong. It will be about four weeks. 


Those of you reading this, if you are already in your later years of 50s and 60s, you know ‘four weeks’ is about right.  You can think back so clearly to incidents that occurred in your life decades ago, many of which seem to have occurred only a few weeks ago.


When I spoke to them yesterday, I wrote on the whiteboard “Ecclesiastes” and told them they can find it in the Old Testament. It’s a short book. Only twelve very brief chapters. It won't take more than 15-20 minutes to read. But it’s something everyone – In their twenties, thirties, sixties, even to their nineties – everyone should read at least once a year. And they should not overlook the last chapter.


Please, you who are now reading this, hear me. One day, if we live to old age, every one of us will stare at the reflection in the mirror and wonder where the decades have gone.  So fast. So soon.


Please, before you get there, I hope you will pay very close attention to what Solomon wrote in chapter 12 of Ecclesiastes:


“Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, “I have no delight in them” . . . The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1, 13)