I shed a good few tears too! My nan will be 85 this month. I used to be a nurse and I always looked after people as if they were my own family. Certainly brings things home, especially when the wheel turns and you need help yourself. Jo ----- Original Message ----- From: "Wiccanpt2" <Wiccanpt2@netzero.net> To: <MORAY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 7:01 PM Subject: Re: [MORAY] Poem - Crabby Old Woman > Thank you Carol...............even though it caused me to be teary eyed, > it does make one stop and think. I have a grandmother who will soon be > 98. > > Sherry > Canton, MI > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "carol" <carol@wakefieldfhs.org.uk> > To: <MORAY-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 1:36 PM > Subject: [MORAY] Poem - Crabby Old Woman > > >> This was sent to another mailing list, the sender said I could send to >> all of my lists. Hope you enjoy the words >> >> enjoy >> >> Carol >> Admin Moray Mailing List >> www.wakefieldfhs.org.uk/morayweb >> >> When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near >> Dundee, Scotland, it was believed that she had nothing left of any >> value. Later, when the nurses were going through her 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 Ireland. The old lady's sole bequest to >> posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News >> Magazine of the North Ireland Association for Mental Health. A slide >> presentation has also been made based on her simple, but eloquent, poem. >> And this little old Scottish lady, with nothing left to give to the >> world, is now the author of this "anonymous" poem winging across the >> Internet: >> >> >> Crabby Old Woman >> >> 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, >> 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, people, Open and see, >> Not a crabby old woman; Look closer . . . see ME!! >> >> >> ==== MORAY Mailing List ==== >> Please do not send virus warnings to this list. If you have concerns >> about a virus, contact the list admin at MORAY-D-request@rootsweb.com or >> join VIRUS-DISCUSSIONS-L@rootsweb.com subscribe in the subject line. >> >> ============================== >> Search Family and Local Histories for stories about your family and the >> areas they lived. Over 85 million names added in the last 12 months. >> Learn more: http://www.ancestry.com/s13966/rd.ashx >> >> > > > ==== MORAY Mailing List ==== > MORAY OPR's. The OPR's for the Moray area are now starting to be > transcribed and volunteers are needed. Would anyone interested in > transcribing the OPR's for our area please contact me via my usual email > address or visit the Moray Rootsweb pages and contact me via the mailing > list Admin. > > ============================== > Find your ancestors in the Birth, Marriage and Death Records. > New content added every business day. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13964/rd.ashx > >