** this poem is written from the point of view of a nursing home resident as I have observed that they feel from my many years of working and volunteering in nursing homes””
TO MY NURSES…
Just because I am old
Does not mean I should be discarded
I was young like you once
Full of life and very big hearted
I raises my babies , just like you are
I loved my husband and drove a car
I had a beautiful house
that I took care of with love
I baked Christmas cookies
and knitted my grandchildren gloves
I bet you don’t know but I worked really hard
I struggled and fought for my family
I felt things very deeply and cared very much
I had family and friends whose lives that I touched
I once was important and had a real life
Just like you do and you never think
That your life will pass away just like mine did
You’ll end up with nothing you worked for, in the end
You’ll lose your driver’s license
and your favorite car too
You’ll lose your independence
and people’s respect
You’ll watch your spouse die and miss him forever
You’ll dread the phone ringing
because more and more family dies
But you might keep going, on with your life
Even thought there is nothing left that matters
You will not understand why God makes you stay
and does not take you home
to heaven
to be with your loved ones
The only people you will have to talk to at all
will be the nurses in the nursing home
and the patients that do not remember your name
So, please have compassion for me and be patient
Because someday it could be you in my place
All the power you feel now
and the things that you love
and the ability to make choices about your day
Could be taken away , never to be seen again
and the life that you once thought was yours…
will become a sad memory that no one wants to listen to
Including the nurses that will take care of you
GentleKindness 