His hands trembled and his eyesight blurred,
His step faltered, only his hearing endured.
He ate with the family, best time of his day,
Enjoyed laughter and chatter, it made him feel gay.
His failing sight and shaking hands, eating a bit of a chore,
His dishes slipped, and fell and broke, and landed on the floor.
His son brought him a wooden bowl, his food was served in there,
A messy eater, who couldn’t be neater, and felt their angry glare.
His son set him a tiny table, and the old man sat alone,
No longer part of the family, worst time he’d ever known.
The four year old watched anxiously, “There is something I must do,
Buy two wooden bowls, for when you are old, so you can sit with grandpa too.”
The words made the Parents speechless and brought tears to their eyes,
They were instilling in their son for the future, a way that was not wise.
They tenderly took the old man’s hand and brought him back to their table,
And for the rest of his days, in all ways, let him do what he was able.
October 20th, 2010 @ 7:16 pm
Beautiful.
October 22nd, 2010 @ 3:06 pm
Wow!!!how beautiful the poems are and the drawings that Bessie wrote!!!What an example of love and talent.
November 2nd, 2010 @ 10:40 am
Bess’ poems and illustrations are sentimental and moving. Well done and well kept.
November 7th, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
Many many thanks for treating us to the wonderful poetry written by dear Bessie. We were overwhelmed and made our hearts glow with her wonderful talent. She is truly an inspiration of life and what is most important.
November 15th, 2010 @ 12:26 pm
It was a treat to see Bessie’s handwritten and illustrated poems!
January 9th, 2011 @ 5:39 pm
I see the bowls as polished teak wood, beautiful and worn and precious like the old man’s wisdom. Thank you for this reminder to be inclusive to everyone, regardless of age. It’s way too easy to “throw away” anybody because we are too busy or important or any other excuse for heartless selfishness.
October 20th, 2011 @ 7:42 pm
Incisive, heartwarming poem whose message is important to everyone in this life. I always love a poem with a message and a moral, and this poem offers both in a very sensitive way. Highest regards to Bessie, a poet who knows how to write beautiful poetry.