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A Patient’s Bequest

When an old lady died in the geriatric ward of Ashludie Hospital near Dundee, England, it appeared she left nothing of value.  The nurse going through her possessions found a poem.  The quality so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.  This was the old lady’s bequest to posterity:

What do you see nurses, what do you see?

What are you thinking when you look at me –

A crabby 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 which you’d try.”

Who seems not to notice the things that you do

And forever losing a stocking or shoe

Who unresisting 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 move at your bidding, as I eat at your will.

I’m a small child with a father and mother

Brothers and Sisters who love one another.

A young girl of sixteen with wings on her feet

Dreaming that soon a lover she’ll meet.

A bride 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 needs me to build a secure, happy home.

A woman of thirty, my young now grow fast

Bound together with ties that should last.

At forty, my young sons have grown and gone

But my man’s beside me to see I don’t mourn.

At fifty once more babies play around my knee

Again we know children, my loved ones and me.

Dark days are upon me, my husband is 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 an old woman now and nature is cruel

Tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles, grace and vigour depart

There is 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 joys, I remember the pain

And I’m loving and living life over again.

I think of the years, all too few, all gone too fast

And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.

So open your eyes nurse, open and see

Not a crabby old woman, look closer – SEE ME!