What are you thinking when you look at me
A crabbit old woman, not very wise
Uncertain of habit, with far away eyes.
Who dribbles her food and makes not 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 10 with a father and mother
Brothers and sisters who love one another,
A young girl at 16, with wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon, a lover she'll meet,
A bride soon at 20, my heart gives a leap
At remembering the vows that I promised to keep.
At 25 now, I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home.
A woman of 30, my young now grow fast
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At 40, my young now will soon be gone
But my man stays beside me to see I don't mourn.
At 50, once more babies play on 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 all 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 like a fool.
The body it crumbles, grace and vigour depart
And now there's a stone, where once was 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 so fast
And accept the stark fact, nothing can last.
So, open your eyes nurse, open and see
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer, see me!
Yes, we are thinking when seeming to flee.
We may seem to be hard as we hurry and fuss
But there are many of you, and too few of us!
We would like more time, to sit by you and talk
To bathe you and feed you, and help you to walk.
To hear of your lives, and the things you have done
Your childhood, your husband , your daughter, your son.
But time is against us, there's too much to do
Patients too many, nurses too few.
We grieve when we see you so sad and alone
With nobody near you, no friends of your own.
We feel all your pain, we know of your fear,
That nobody cares now, when your end may be near,
But nurses are people with feelings as well,
And when we're together, you'll often hear tell,
Of the dearest old gran in the very end bed,
And the lovely old Dad and the things that he said.
We speak with compassion, and love, and feel sad,
When we think of your lives and the joys you have had.
And when the time comes for you to depart,
You leave us behind with an ache in our hearts,
When you come to the long sleep, no more worry or care.
There are other old people, and we must be there,
So please understand, if we hurry and pass,
There are many of you and too few of us.
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