The Crabby Old Man

[fishlipper]

My Dad passed away recently. Although he had some good points, he was truly one of the crabbiest, and could be one of the meanest and most selfish, around.

Thought I was over it, but I have been thinkin of him a lot lately, especially when I am alone fishin at night.

He was crabby, but he was my Dad, and the only Dad I ever knew.

Lotta regrets for the times we coulda had, but didn't because of his stubbornness.

Lord knows I tried and tried to make things right, and we ended up patching things up somewhat in the end.

However, I will always have my regrets. I would urge others out there who are having communication issues, or fights with family members, to think of what might happen if they died suddenly.

How would you feel if you couldn't resolve any unresolved issues you had between you?

I dedicate this tribute that my girl sent me to My Dad, the Crabby Old Man. I also took some pics of the storm the other day that reminded me of him coming across the horizon. Miss you Dad, and hope you are happy, and finally at Peace - fishlipper


The Crabby Old Man:


When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a small hospital near Tampa, Florida, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.

Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies we re-made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Missouri. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made
based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Crabby Old Man

What do yo u 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 a 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 scure 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'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.

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.
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,
And now and again .....my battered heart swells
I remember the joys........... I remember the pain.
And '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 crabby old man... Look closer....see........ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.....we will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched.. They must be felt by the heart.

[dogfish]

Sorry to hear about your Dad, man. My Dad was a little like that. He's gone now, but your post brought back memories. Sometimes we don't realize what we got till it's gone (Joni Mitchell, paved paradise and put up a parking lot)

Great post.

[plugginpete]

Fishlipper, sorry about your Dad. It is difficult to see the good in people when you are in the mist of the turmoiled relationship.

At the end of life there are only memories.

Hopefully we can all learn to be less stubborn and more forgiving.

[stormchaser]

Sorry about your Dad, man, RIP. But I like the post, cool pics.

[hookedonbass]

Very cool. sorry about your Dad, dude.