The Crabbit Old Woman; and Others
A Crabbit Old Woman Wrote This
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,
Uncertain of habit, with far-away 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 are thinking, is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse, you are not looking at ME.
I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I use 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 that soon now 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 woman of thirty, my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last;
At forty, my young sons have grown and are gone.
But my man’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 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 –
Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body it crumbles, grace and vigour depart,
There is now a stone where I once had a heart;
But inside this old carcass a young girl still swells,
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, nurses, open and see,
Not a crabbit old woman, look closer – see ME!
This is an old favourite of mine
When I’m An Old Lady
~~~*~~~~~~*~~~~~~*~~~
When I’m an old lady,
I’ll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness…
just as they did.
I want to pay back
all the joy they’ve provided,
Returning each deed.
Oh, they’ll be so excited!
When I’m an old lady
and live with my kids.
~~*~~
I’ll write on the wall
with reds, whites and blues,
And bounce on the furniture
wearing my shoes.
I’ll drink from the carton
and then leave it out.
I’ll stuff all the toilets
and oh, how they’ll shout!
When I’m an old lady
and live with my kids.
~~*~~
When they’re on the phone
and just out of reach,
I’ll get into things
like sugar and bleach,
Oh, they’ll snap their fingers
and then shake their head,
And when that is done
I’ll hide under the bed!
When I’m an old lady
and live with my kids.
~~*~~
When they cook dinner
and call me to eat,
I’ll not eat my green beans
or salad or meat.
I’ll gag on my okra,
spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry
I’ll run… if I’m able!
When I’m an old lady
and live with my kids.
~~*~~
I’ll sit close to the TV,
through the channels I’ll click,
I’ll cross both my eyes
just to see if they stick.
I’ll take off my socks
and throw one away,
And play in the mud
’til the end of the day!
When I’m an old lady
and live with my kids.
~~*~~
And later in bed,
I’ll lay back and sigh,
I’ll thank God in prayer
and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down
with a smile slowly creeping,
And say with a groan.
“She’s so sweet ….. when she’s sleeping!”
When I’m an old lady
and live with my kids.
~~*~~
God Bless All
Moms and Grandmas
Everywhere!
~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~~~~*~~