A Long Road Home

Dad on the beach--this poem could have been written by him

What do you see nurses? .......What do you see?

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

A crabby 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 ones ........have grown and are gone,

But my woman'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.

I'm now an old man.........and nature is cruel.

'Tis 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 guy still dwells,

This was written by a man with Alzheimer's in a nursing home and found upon his death.

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