[dellym]

WHAT DO YOU SEE NURSE?

What do you see nurse?
What do you see?
Are you thinking when you look at me?
A grabby 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, whatever you do.
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe…
Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will
With bathings or 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 use 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
As a young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet
Deaming 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
Who need me to build a secure happy home….

A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast
Bound to each other with ties that should last
At forty my young ones now grown will soon be gone
But my man stays beside me to see I don’t mourn
At fifty once more babies play around my knee
Again we know children my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me my husband is dead
I look to the future, I shudder with dread
For my young ones are all busy rearing young of their own
And I think of the years and the love I have known…

I’m an old woman now and nature is cruel
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool
The body is crumbling, grace and vigour depart
There now is a stone where I once had a heart
But inside this carcase a young girl still dwells
And now and again my battered heart swells
I remember the joys, I remember the pain
I’m living and loving life all 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 nurse…OPEN AND SEE!!!
NOT A GRABBY OLD WOMAN..LOOK CLOSER..SEE ME!!!!

NOTE

Kate who wrote this poem was unable to speak. After her death in hospital, this poem was found in her locker. Makes you think eh?
(copywrited)