Poem read out on BBC Radio 4 some years back

[Segilla]

It was written as if by an old lady, feeble and in a hospital bed. It was adressed to her nurse who I think treated her with contempt. The point got across was that what the nurse saw was but a husk of the person;s former self, who once had dignity, ability, position and so on.
Can anyoner give a source?

[jeanyb]

Hi Segilla
I think this is the poem you are looking for
http://www.dougkelley.com/articles/whatsee.htm

[Naomicorlett]

http://mrmom.amaonline.com/stories/CrabbitOldW oman.htm I found this poem in my late mother's papers. She was a nurse then retrained as a psychiatric nurse. Her last years were spent being cared for with Altzheimers. I think she related to it on all sorts of levels.

[Naomicorlett]

Just had a little weep/ How I miss her.

[swedeheart]

We too found a poem, naomicorlett, in our late mother's purse. It was in Swedish, I don't have a translation but it was all about difficulties and pain. Very rough on us finding it and it's still painful ten years later to think of her seeing it in some magazine, cutting it out with difficulty and keeping it there. It's hard even to write this, there where so many levels on which we were never able to connect though both of us tried. Ain't life strange.

[Naomicorlett]

I fhave a list that my mother wrote headed " My 10 favourite things" 1st was the sight of the rear of a horse with tail swing ing. 2nd was the faces of small children as they peered into her window to wave at her. . and.... a long way down the list at 7th was " a visit from one of my family" Love you too Mum !!

[Segilla]

Sorry to have triggered unhappy memories.
The website credits the poem as coming from Dunde (sic), England (sic!!) so to keep the peace I've asked them to change it to Dundee, Scotland.

[swedeheart]

Aww Segilla that's all right, it's just... life. 'Sides, you triggered a list memory as well that I for one wouldn't want to have missed - that's hilarious, naomicorlett - or shall I just call you No. 7 ;-) Mums, eh...