Last week I ran into a very touching poem by Dave Griffid titled “Too Soon Old”. I also found out that this poem has been floating around internert for some time, but I couldn’t resist sharing it with you in case you haven’t read it yet.
TOO SOON OLD.
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 a 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,
Again, we know children . . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future . …. . . . 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!
Are we always patient and respectful towards old people? Do we realise that once they were as young, full of energy and pasionate about their dreams as we are now?
Another very touching quote from the internet by an unknown author comes to mind.
When you were a child, they spent hours on teaching you how to use covers… on teaching you how to dress up, lace up your shoes, button up your shirt… They changed your dirty diapers, washed you and brushed your hair, they taught you how to read and write…
So when they get old, start forgetting simple things and reacting slowly – don’t get angry at them. When they start forgetting buttoning up and lacing up their shoes, when they start soiling themselves while eating, when their hands start shaking while brushing… Please don’t hurry them. Because you were also growing very slowly.
Only your presence, your patience, your generosity will bring warmness into their hearts. When it starts being difficult for them to walk – hold their hand. Stay around them – because they always stayed around you, by suffering for you, encouraging you and living for you!
What I want to say is: love, respect and be grateful to your parents and grandparents. Try to return to them at least a little part of the love they have given you. And appreciate every moment you can spend with them, because they won’t be around forever.