Cranky Old Man

A Poem

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital. 

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem. And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet. 

Cranky Old Man 

What do you see nurses? . . . What do you see? 
What are you thinking . . . when you're looking at me? 

A cranky old man . . . not very wise, 
Uncertain of habit . . . with faraway eyes? 

Who dribbles his 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 sock or shoe? 

Who, resisting or not . . . lets you do as you will, 
With bathing and feeding . . . The long day to fill? 

Is that what you're 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 do 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 boy of Sixteen . . . with wings on his feet, 
Dreaming that soon now . . . a lover he'll meet. 

A groom 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 guide . . . And a secure happy home. 

A man 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 woman is 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 wife is now 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 now an old man . . . and nature is cruel. 
It's 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 man 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 too fast. 
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last. 

So open your eyes, people . . . . . . . . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man. Look closer . . . . see . . . ME!! 

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too! 

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM (originally by Phyllis McCormack; adapted by Dave Griffith) The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

Bull

A DEA Agent

... stopped at a ranch in Texas and talked to an old rancher. He told the rancher, "I need to inspect your ranch for illegally grown drugs." The rancher said, "okay, but don't go into that field over there...", as he pointed out the location.

The DEA Agent verbally exploded and said, "look mister, I have the authority of the federal government with me!" Reaching into his rear back pocket, the arrogant officer removed his badge and proudly displayed it to the rancher. "See this badge?! This badge means I can go wherever I want... On any land! No questions asked, no answers given! Do you understand old man?!"

The rancher kindly nodded, apologized, and went about his chores. Moments later the rancher heard loud screams, he looked up and saw the DEA agent running for his life, being chased by the ranchers big Santa Gertrudis Bull …

With every step the bull was gaining ground on the officer, and it was likely that he'd sure enough get gored before he reached safety. The officer was clearly terrified.

The old rancher threw down his tools, ran as fast as he could to the fence, and yelled at the top of his lungs …

"YOUR BADGE! YOUR BADGE! SHOW HIM YOUR BADGE!"

Holiday Greetings

 My Democrat Friends: 

Please accept with no obligation, implied or explicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, Non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. 

I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2014, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. 

Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country, nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere.

This wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the sender.

To My Republican Friends:

Merry Christmas and a 
Happy New Year!

In God We Trust, God Bless America!

Happy Thanksgiving

40% of the top US tax payers are paying 106% of the taxes collected. Radio report on 12/12/13. 

What does that say about tax “subsidies” for the other 60%? 

Did we learn nothing from the Pilgrims?