I care

I care

Elderly man in a care home with scarf and hat

The company he keeps is a budgie and cat.

A wealth of knowledge and a lifetime of work,

Not one day of sickness or an hour he shirked.

He fought for a better life for us,

Suffered much more than bruises and cuts.

Never once did he ever let us down, but

Some people won't care when he's not around.

The intelligent mind, fought through a war,

Now it seems, he's being ignored.

If only right now, he was able to speak

But some people think he's just a freak.

The medication he takes to keep alive

To get through the day, to breathe and survive.

If only he was given the choice,

It's been so long since he lost his voice.

His mind and thoughts have started to fail,

It won't be long before his body will ail.

But all the doctors are still insisting

That he keeps on living and existing.

It's important that he's kept alive

So big the greed to grow and thrive.

The G.P's will keep handing out the pills

To help along all the aches and ills.

He's lived far too long, can't you see?

Bodily functions not what they used to be.

It's quite wrong for the human anatomy

To make millions for some drug company.

Now, like a zombie, his spirit's died

It's been nine years since he lost his bride.

Did I mention that he has vascular dementia

Do you think he's worth more than a mention?

A memory gone, he's so confused

His life story is now all fused.

He was our hero, a respected man,

We should be helping him all we can.

Although he looks happy in his locked mind

Almost deaf and nearly blind.

Even though he seems resigned.

We must understand and just be kind.

A life of hospital and district nursing;

If he understood, he would be cursing.

Spoon fed, washed, it's become a wage

To look after old people in their old age.

Copyright Linda Lawrence

12th April 2015