What do you see

The following poem was written by a women who died in an old folk's ward in the ASHUDEE HOSPITAL near DUNDEE, SCOTLAND. It was found among her possessions and so impressed the staff that copies of the poem was widely distributed through out the hospital and beyond...

" What do you see nurse, what do you see?

A crabbed old women, not every wise, Uncertain of habit with far away eyes,

Who dribbles her food and make no reply.

When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you try!"

Who seems not to notice the things you do,

And forever is loosing a stocking or shoe?

Who resisting or not let you do as you wish,

With bathing and feeding the long to fill?

Is that you'r thinking, is that what u see?

Then open your eyes nurse you are, looking at me.

I will tell you who I am as you sit here so still.

As I move at your bidding, move at your will.

I am a small child of ten with father and mother,

Brothers and sisters who love one and another,

A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet,

Dreaming that soon a love she will meet,

A bride at twenty my heart gives a leap,

Remembering that vows that I promised to keep;

At twentyfive my heart gives a leap;

Remembering the vows that I promised to keep.

At twenty five now I have a young one of my own.

Who needs me to build a secure happy home.

A women of thirty my young now grows fast,

Bound together with ties that should last,

At forty my young sons have grown up and gone,

But my husbands near me to see that I don't mourn.

At fifty once more baby's play around my knee,

Again we know children, my loved ones and me,

Dark days are upon me my husband is dead;

I look at future I shudder with dread;

For my young ones are all rearing young one of their own.

I am an old women right now and nature's cruel;

Tis her just to make old age look like a fool;

The body it rumples grace and vigor depart;

There is a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old women a young women still dwells.

And now again my embittered heart swells.

I remember the joys I remember the pain,

And I am loving and living life all over again,

I think of the years all too few, gone too fast.

And accept he stark fact that nothing can last,

So open u 'r eyes nurse open and see. Not a crippled old women,

Look closer----- see me."