"Hello in There"

            My father-in-law, Arno, in 2008

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, 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 were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in magazines for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

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

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!!

"Hello in There"

The Trouble With Words

Many years ago I wrote a blog posting about The Importance of Vowels, based upon something my blogging friend, Jami, spoke of  when teaching male convicts how to read and write. I have been recently thinking about conversations she and I had about words. Now it is my turn--only I wish to remove words, or, at least, lessen their usage. 

Much of my time is spent listening to podcasters, radio shows, and talking with people. If I am not listening, I am writing. Lately I have found myself simply bristling at the repeated usage of certain words people use, some who should really know better. One word which annoys me in its usage is "right?".  Some people use this word at the end of every declarative sentence, as though the listener should answer, but pressing on without awaiting the response. The same is true with "you know?" used a hundred times in a conversation. These are space savers in conversations or fillers used to grasp the attention or approval of the listener. If you are sure about something, just say it rather than waiting for agreement! I've heard this from podcasters, professional radio personalities, business people, even men of the cloth. Makes my hair stand up! 

There are other words which are used with some regularity, most often in church settings. The terminology which is all the rage includes "intentional" or "missional" which make me shake my head. When is something at church not intentional or not missional? Why does have it be almost a doctrine/practice? It feels almost manipulative to use expressions like these to direct the audiences' or congregations' emotions or actions a certain way. I am trying to be diplomatic here, not accusational (ha ha).

Last night one of the shows I watch, a panel program, had a guest host. He is a funny guy, a stand-up comedian, BUT repeatedly uses the expression "stick with me" when it seems the jokes go over the audience heads. He also says his name in a scolding manner, "Jimmy", when he says something outrageous, which bugs the snot out of me. These expressions are props as well. Stop it! 

Before I wrote this, I gave much thought to my own language. Was there an expression or word group I use as a prop or a space keeper? I cannot think of anything and surely hope I do not. Certainly my friend who uses "you know?" every few words has no idea they are doing it. Using close-captioning on the TV screen or monitors allows for visual evidence of the repetitive use of those expressions. The auto-captioning catches even pauses which are preferable to "right?".