"Crabbit Old Woman"

A Poem By: Anonomous"

What do you see, what do you see? 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 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 loosing a stocking or shoe. Who, unresisting or not; lets you do as you will, with bathing and feeding the long day is fill. Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse; you're looking at me. I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still! As I raise 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 loved one another - a young girl of 16 with wings on her feet, dreaming that soon now a lover she'll meet, a bride soon at 20- my heart gives a leap, 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 sons have grown and are gone, but my man's beside me to see I don't mourn; at 50 once more babies play around 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, and 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 is crumbled, 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 joy, 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, nurse, open and see, not a crabbit old woman, look closer - See Me.

~ Anonomous■