THE NURSING HOME
| Each time I passed a nursing home I'd see her sitting there A shawl draped 'round her shoulders And a neat scarf on her hair And though still in my younger years I found it pretty bad That the world could leave her sitting there So all alone and sad Old people sort of scared me 'cause death was at their door It was plain they'd lived a lot of years They'd not see many more And yet one day with courage up I dared to stop awhile I raised my hand in greeting She returned it with a smile And her smile was so inviting That it pushed my fears away So I stopped to spend some time with her To brighten up her day Though her face was bright and happy Her eyes were moist with tears And I guessed that she was crumbling 'Neath the pressure of her years "Please don't cry." I begged her "I know you're feeling sad But tears won't solve your problems; They just leave you feeling bad." She eyed me with amazement Then I heard her softly say "These tears I cry are tears of joy I shed them every day." "I've seen you pass this way before You look at me and sigh And I see the sadness on your face As you go strolling by." "But please don't waste your sympathy I feel no grief or pain. I'm living in my memories And I am young again." "I think of all the joys I've had And all the joys I've seen. The past is now my kingdom And I'm its ruling queen." "And in this kingdom that I rule It's clearly understood Bad memories aren't permitted I dwell only on the good." "Your past can not be taken Those years are yours to own And I walk my path of memories Whenever I'm alone." "My memories are of brightness And they are never grim. For I relive the happy days I shared with my dear Jim." "And I can push back all the years Until again I'm just a 'teen'. When I whirled around the dance floor And was crowned the 'Ballroom Queen'." "And again I go on holidays On a beach with silver sand. When I wore the cutest bathing suit And gosh, but it was grand." "And I see my 'graduation day'. As clear, as clear can be And again I feel the pride I felt With my parents watching me." "And again I live those precious years When Jim with voice so mild Would read his bedtime stories To our wondrous little child." "Though both my child and Jim have died I push it from my mind. For in my heart they both live on In a time when life was kind." "You see, my memories let me wander Through all the years I've seen. I can dwell in 'age' or 'childhood' And in every year between." That day I count a blessing She chased my fears away And each time I happened by there We'd pass the time of day. The years have finally claimed her She's no longer in her chair But in my heart she still lives on I see her sitting there. I recall the wisdom of her ways She had so much to give I no longer fear my old age She taught me how to live. For when I'm getting feeble I won't let in the rain I'll just delve back in my memories And I'll be young again. K.D. Abbott © 2007 |
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