Die Moeilike Ou Man

Toe die ou man afsterwe in die gerontologie saal van die versorgingsoord is geglo dat hy nie enige iets gehad het van waarde nie.

Later toe die verpleeg personeel deur sy karige besittings gaan vind hulle die volgende gedig. Die gehalte en die inhoud daarvan het die personeel so geraak dat hulle kopieë gemaak het van die gedig en dit aan elke verpleeg personeellid in die versorgingsoord gegee het.

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 vigour, 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!!

Onthou die gedig wanneer jy volgende keer ‘n oumens ontmoet, kyk verder as die oppervlak en sien die jong siel binne hom of haar ….. ons sal almal eendag, ook daar wees!

Die beste en die mooiste dinge in die wêreld kan nie gesien of betas word nie.
Hulle moet aangevoel word met die hart.