Woman

Maybe Old and a Little Cranky

What do you see? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?

A cranky old woman, . . . . . .not very wise,...
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?

Who shuns medical care .. . ... . . 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 her body and soul . . . . Her long day to fill?

Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes. 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 act at your will.

I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another

A young girl of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover she'll meet.

A bride by age Eighteen . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.

At Twenty, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.

A woman of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.

At Forty, my children .. .have grown and are gone,
But my Lord is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.

At Fifty, once more, .. ... Grandbabies 'round my knee,
Again, I know children . . . . My loved ones and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . My body half 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 am now old . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's 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 woman 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 . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old woman.

Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!