Old Woman

Old woman small and frail

bitter and forgotten

How vibrant you must have been

Your hands are now weathered

your body worn down

But at one time, those legs danced

Do you remember your husband rushing home

just to hold you in his arms?

Does his memory keep you breathing?

Your children looked to you with hopeful eyes

and you made everything better

Will they ever come back to visit?

What dangles in your tired mind

as you count the minutes dragging by?

What are you thankful for when you pray?

With all the lukewarm lunches and pill popping

Do my smiles make a difference?

How I wish dear lady

that I could make your life more fulfilling

than squirrel watching

and re-reading Christmas cards

you received two years ago.

Author's Note

I wrote this some years back when I worked for a nursing home.

Reviews

[SleeplessVolcano]

It is sad, but real.......inspires me to write an email (or even better - a poem!) to my parents now since it is quite likely that they are tired of squirrel watching! On a serious note, it is sad, when, at the end of our lives, we only live in the past.....only have nostaligia to hold on to.......we should now, while we have time, invest every spare minute into the lives of others so that when it is our time to be old, it could still be full of life, love, friendship and new experiences......great writing!!

[Laura3841]

Thank you so much!

[Ana B.]

Beautiful and sentimental.....i loved it!

[Laura3841]

Thank you Ana!

[Arthur Martel]

This poem carries a sad and caring feeling to it, you sound like a warm person :)

[Laura3841]

I appreciate the compliment.

[Sarah]

this makes me utterly sad. this was done very skillfully. you paint a very vivid picture here. thanks for sharing.

[Laura3841]

Thank you Sarah. It is a sad poem...a nursing home can be a sad place to work. I no longer work there, it's been years but I'll never forget those people.

[diamonddave75]

Loved this.. Beautiful write.. Thanks for sharing.. Dave

[Laura3841]

Thank you so much Dave! :)

[Mr_M]

I loved the way you intertwined love and time and the relationship they share. How we are all connected because of it. Part of me feels for the woman who continues to live in the past. A poem I feel will be hard to forget.

[Laura3841]

Wow...thank you for the beautiful, heartfelt review. :)

[WILDERNESS]

Thats really good...................... a touching poem.

[Laura3841]

Thank you!

[Coyote Poetry]

I do understand this poem. Even my dear Grandmother. I would take places. I didn't want her to wait for death only.
"How I wish dear lady
that I could make your life more fulfilling
than squirrel watching
and re-reading Christmas cards
you received two years ago."
I like the concern and the wish in the words. Thank you for sharing the excellent poetry.
Coyote

[Laura3841]

Thank you Coyote :) I feel blessed that you liked it.

[Coyote Poetry]

We must take care of the elders. They took care of us.

[Laura3841]

Absolutely...they deserve our upmost respect and care.

[Magnus]

Wow! This is a masterpiece professionally done! Beautiful flow! Touching and emotionally connecting! I have read that poem I wait for each day! The beautiful and amazing poem " old woman"

[Laura3841]

Thank you so very much Magnus! What a compliment. And thank you for taking the time to read my work. God bless!