CRABBIT OLD WOMAN
A. Ferguson
What do you see nurses, what do you see?
Are you thinking when you are looking at me.
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
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 are 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 use at your bidding, and 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 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 build a secure, happy home.
A women 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 besided 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 an old woman now and nature is cruel--
T'is her 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 so fast,
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, nurses, open and see--
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer----see ME!!!