"The Forgotten"

Thoughts from a visit to a nursing home.

         'The Forgotten'

Just an old man, with nothing to do,
Put in a home...unwanted by you.
Tied into a wheelchair, as he can't walk,
No one to listen...so he rarely talks.

On visiting day, no one comes here,
He watches the people but no one walks near.
He searches the faces, he tries to look meek.
But silently a tear...rolls down his cheek.

Perhaps they are all busy, or something is wrong;
Why have they all... stayed away so long?
Where are his children, he has quite a few?
Now visitors are leaving...but no one he knew.

Where are his grandchildren that he loves so dear;
Are they ill, is that why no one comes near?
He remembers the times, when they were small,
Giving them spending money, tossing a ball.

Taking them fishing...now those were the days!
Lots of fun before they put him away.
Now...just what was the reason that he came here?
What did he do, his memory is not clear?

He waits for the postman each day when he comes.
They pass out letters, for him again...'not one.'
He wheels himself slowly back to his room;
Loneliness sets in, again tears start to loom.

Why is he here, 'God just what did I do?
Lord this is so lonely, can I come Home to You?'

Reviews

[wordman]

a true story I`m sure for a lot of people
there's always some place else we need to go or be a softball tournament
a picnic or something to take our time leaving them behind

my wife's aunt used to say she lived among the deadmtalking about her pictures of family
that had passed on

[Valentine]

How true that sounds. Gee, maybe we are starting to get that way! Kathie

[wordman]

well who knows ,if you don`t see me here in a while, you know I have it lol

[andrew mitchell]

A sad but truthful write. more so these days as life is such a frantic pace and the old are always forgotten. a sad poem

[Valentine]

It seems that they age, get ill, can't be alone, and instead of family making a place for them, they put them in a home. Some are so ill they belong there, others no. Kathie

[andrew mitchell]

Yes I know My wife works in a nursing home and tells me all. And I feel sad about the forgotten the homeless

[Kimberly Miller]

This was really bittersweet, as he remembers sadness, he also remembers joy. Lovely write.

[Valentine]

That is so true. Thank you for reading my scribble. Kathie

[BougaTimeBongo]

What a sad piece. I've worked with individuals in different types of care facilities and this is so true, so honest to the experience that far too many people experience. I am rarely a fan of rhyming, I think that usually it gets in the way of the real sentiment and story, but I have to say you have created a rhythm and your rhymes are made in such an easy way. They don't feel forced and it flows the way it ought to in order to convey a solid, smooth story. Lovely work, Valentine. :)

[Valentine]

Working in this type of a place is heartbreaking. We need to give the older generation our love, support and thanks. Kathie