Cranky Old Man
There's So Much More To Life Than Appearances and So Much More Within The Appearances Of Life That are All Too Often Overlooked, Ignored, Remaining Both Unheeded and Unseen
I've always held a very deep admiration, immense respect and heartfelt appreciation for the elderly since I was a young boy. That's perhaps why I find the following, titled 'Cranky Old Man' to be so POWERFUL, inspiring, SO VERY insightful and thought provoking yet at the same time, very sad in a sense.
One thing is certain. There's often SO MUCH more to life and what dwells within each of us than meets the eye.
Perhaps as you take in the Cranky Old Man poem below, you'll be enabled to look and see beyond the "appearance of things" and if you don't already, come to the place where you KNOW, in an uncommon kind of way that WE ALL have inherent value, the likes of which is all too often overlooked.
Cranky Old Man
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when the nurses were
going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its 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 Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to
posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines
around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide
presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the
author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.
Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky 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 seems 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 now . . .. . . 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 is 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.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man 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 cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet or encounter an older person who
you might
otherwise be tempted to brush aside without looking at the young and
wise soul that dwells within the old crusty external shell.
Many of us who do experience a long physical life on this planet we call Earth, will after all; EACH of us without exception, one day, be there, too!
A favorite tidbit of wisdom comes to mind as I ponder The Cranky Old Man story above, and it's this...
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
PLEASE SHARE this Inspiring Poem (originally by Phyllis McCormack; adapted by Dave Griffith)
The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt and embraced by the heart!
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