This poem has zipped around the Internet with a false story that it was found among the belongings of a man after he died in a nursing home.

The truth is it was written by Dave Griffith of Fort Worth, Texas. It is personal; his life of high school football, the Marines, marriage and disabilities.

His words grabbed me by the heart. Maybe some of you can relate to this poem:

(this pic is for you, Rummy)

 Too Soon Old

What do you see nurses … what do you see,
What are thinking when you’re looking at me?

A crabby old man not very wise,
Uncertain of habit with far away 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 or 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 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’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 and shudder with dread.

 For my young are now rearing young of their own,
And I think of the years and 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 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 crabby old man, look closer, see ME.

May Your Glass Always Be Half Full
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