I dare you!

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte , Nebraska , 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 Missouri . The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health.

A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.


And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 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's beside me . . .. . . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, . Babies play 'round my knee, gain, 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 I once had a heart.

But inside this old 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 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 man Look Closer . . see . .. . . ME!!


Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside
without looking at the young soul within . .

We will all, one day, be there, too!


The best and most beautiful things
of this world can't be seen or
touched.
They must be felt by the
heart.


Please be kind to old folks,
hopefully you will be one
someday.

This poem was sent to me in an email by my aunt. I thought I would share it because I love the message. I believe that we often under estimate our seniors. We look past them and often forget that they are not dead yet, and that they are human too. More time should be taken with them. After all, I think we often forget that we are going to be in there shoes one day. Maybe we should try a little harder to put the old saying into words... "Treat others as you wish to be treated." Be kinder, take the time to ask them how their day is going, or even just flash a smile at them.

Patience and positive energy things that can go a long way. After working with senior citizens I have learned a whole new respect not only for them, but for everyone. You never know how your mood or attitude can truly effect someone. I learned quick that patience with anyone, and a smile can turn their day around.

So I am going to try a little harder to remember what the crabby old man said. I am going to try and look past his grumpy mood and try and see him as a person. After all, you never know what path someone has walked unless you ask.

So brighten some one's day! Take the time to smile at someone, or ask them how their day is. Let someone know that they matter to you..... I dare you!