Tuesday 23 September 2008

Rummaging

I have three large boxes in my huge attic which houses a lot of memories. One has everything to do with my son in it, one for my daughter, and one for me! I was rummaging around in them today having the occasional tear at all the lovely mementos I have collected over the years. I came across a couple of poems. One I had written when my first grandchild was born, and another that I had framed and on the wall of the retirement home that we owned. I thought I would share them with you:0)

My new grandaughters name was Emily who is now 17 years old, and this was written to her parents:

When you wake up this morning,
A new feeling will be there,
Of unbelievable happiness
The two of you will share.

That tiny little bundle,
So warm and soft and new,
Is not anothers baby now
This one belongs to you!

She's totally dependant,
On your gentleness and love,
This little miracle of life
From someone up above.

You'll proudly watch her gathering strength,
Her crawling - that first tooth,
Her faltering words and footsteps,
Her schooling and her youth.

And as she slowly blossoms,
And starts venturing from home,
You'll realise that your daughter
Has a lifestyle of her own.

Her need for you will lessen,
As she finds friends of her own,
And finally settles down with one,
Who will always share her home.

You'll feel a little strange at first,
Somewhat like a 'spare',
But suddenly life is full of joy,
Your grandchild will be there!

Again you'll share the feeling,
Of this first day again,
As you hold the tiny baby,
Emotions are the same.

But this time the lovely feeling,
Will be yours to share around,
With three other happy grandfolk,
In who this joy abounds.

The time will pass so quickly,
You must savour every day,
Of this lovely tiny new born babe,
To whom you both gave life today.

* * *

Now at the other end of life, a poem that speaks volumes. This was found in the locker of an old lady in a geriatric hospital by the nurses clearing it out after she had died:

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

What do you see nurses, what do you see?
What are you thinking, when you look 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 unresisting 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, you're not looking at me!
I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I move 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 of soon now a lover she'll meet.

At twenty five now I have young of my own,
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 now will soon be gone,
but my man stands 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 to the future, I shudder with dread;
For my young 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 a fool.
The body it crumbles, grace and vigour depart,
and now there's a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcase, 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 cold facts that nothing can last,
So open your eyes nurses, open and see,
not a crabby old woman, look closer - SEE ME!






17 comments:

Babs (Beetle) said...

The first one is lovely, but I think the second one is very sad. Too many elderly people end up in homes that have staff that couldn't care less.

granny grimble said...

The second one I used to give to my staff to read, to ensure that they had it in their heads at all times. So I knew that one - but the other, well! What can I say? What a beautiful poem, I'd never heard it before, and I didn't know you'd written it. I bet Sindie loved it didn't she? Has Emily ever seen it? You should write some more as there is real truth and feeling in it, and so beautifully phrased. Congratulations. What else have you got hidden in your memories box!

Croom said...

What a beautiful poem Sandie, you wrote it so well. Do you still write poetry? The words are so true.

The second one makes me cry, it is so sad and so true of many elderly people that are homed in a hospital, or nursing home (except yours :O) There are some very, very kind nurses and carers, but I fear more un caring ones :O(

Thank you for a lovely blog again.

Tinax

weechuff said...

Beetle:
Yes you are right, but there are also a lot of very nice ones where the staff do care. You just have to choose very carefully.

Grannygrimble:
Thank you for your kind comments! The poem about the old woman is very well known in the UK now, but I didn't know if other countries had heard it.
I have been searching for hours
for a poem that I wrote to a certain young nephew of mine about our liking for butterflies, but I haven't come across it yet:0(

weechuff said...

Croom:
I don't write poems very much now, but I have written a few in my lifetime to different people. Maybe I will blog them one day.

Gary said...

Oh my goodness mum, what are you trying to do to me? I've blubbed all my mascara off now! I really must show Emily this poem as she's just a few weeks off her 17th birthday. :0)

Gary said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
weechuff said...

Sindie:
Well, the poem is all coming true so far. Let's hope the second half is a long way off yet!

GoldAnne said...

WHAT A LOVELY POEM YOU WROTE SANDIE FOR SINDIE, REALLY SUPER.
THE 2ND WAS VERY SAD I THOUGHT EXACTLY HOW A LOT ARE TREATED IN HOSPITAL,

THANK YOU FOR A BEAUTIFUL BLOG
( DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR SON???)
XXX

Jeanette Spain said...

What a great poem for a new grand child,it should of been published I am sure so many people would enjoy it and relate to the words in it, I enjoyed the second one as well you are sooo clever Sandie.
Jeanette Spain

Swubird said...

Weechuff:

I would have ever thought that I could actually be moved to sadness by a mere poem. But you did it. Whatever happened to Roses are Red, Violets are blue?...

Happy Happy Happy Happy trails.

Lynne the Pencil said...

Your poem is lovely. Is must make Sindie feel very special to read it.

The old lady's poem must have made the nurses cry when they found it. How well she writes and how poignantly she sums up her situation. It's a useful reminder isn't it, that what's on the outside can sometimes hide a still vibrant and very capable brain!

Thanks you for sharing them. They make a perfect pair.

Katie said...

Im a nurse, and I always try to see people for who they are and encorage them to get out of hospital nighties into thier own clothes and get back to normal individual self, but its a sad fact that due to workload pressure, lack of training or plain igorance that a lot of saff forget that they are looking after real people.

weechuff said...

Katie:
Yes, I was a nurse also when I was younger. But that was many years ago when wards were run very differently to what they are today.
I am afraid I now have to agree with you. It is a sad fact of life, made all the more scary for me as I have just turned 66 years old!!!

Black Cat said...

Lovely poems. They both brought tears to my eyes for very different reasons.

Please give Pickles a pat and a hug from me. He (she?) signed my guestbook and I've finally found him thanks to Babs! So thanks Pickles:) xxx

Doda said...

Excellent thoughts on both ends of the spectrum.

Sandi McBride said...

Your poem is beautiful...more so because it has real feeling in the words.

The other one has made the rounds of e-mail land but it is as heart wrenching now as it was the first time I read it.

Enjoyed this
Sandi