For those who care -

What do you see then
what do you see
What are you thinking
when you're looking at me
A crabbit old woman
not very wise,
Uncertain of habit
with far-away eyes
who dribbles her 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 stocking or shoe
who, unresisting 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 please open your eyes
you are not looking at me.

Shall I tell you who I am
as I sit here so still
as I wake at your bidding
and eat at your will.

I'm a small child of ten
with a father and mother
brothers and sisters who
love one one another -
A young girl of sixteen
with wings on her feet
dreaming that soon now
a loved one she'll meet -
A bride soon at twenty
my heart gives a leap
Rememberinbg the vows
I promised to keep -
At twenty-five now
I have young of my own
who need me to build them
a secure happy home -
A woman of thirty
my young now grow fast
bound to each other
with ties that should last -
At forty my young ones
now grown and all gone
but my man stays 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 husband is dead
I look at the future
it fills me with dread
for my young are all busy
with young of their own
and I think of the years
and the love that I've known.

I'm an old woman now
and nature is cruel
for her its a jest to make
old age look a fool
the body it crumbles
grace and vigour depart
it leaves an sore ache
where there once was a heart

But inside this old carcase
a young girl 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, then
open and see
not a crabbit old woman
look closer - see me.