Very touching
When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.
And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet.
Cranky Old Man
What do you see nurses? ….. What do you see?
What are you thinking ….. when you’re looking at me?
A cranky old man, ….. not very wise,
Uncertain of habit ….. with faraway 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 shoe?
Who, resisting 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 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 at 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 is 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 ….. I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing ….. young of their own.
And I think of the years ….. And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man ….. and nature is cruel.
It’s jest to make old age ….. look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles ….. grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone ….. where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass ….. A young man 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 cranky old man …..
Look closer ….. see ….. ME!!
Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!
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The best and most beautiful things of this world can’t be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!
Dear friends,
When I read the poem, it reminds deeply the family we attach to, money we make, the fame we have, the food we crave, the house, spouse, fashion, clothes, car, family, trips and all are nice but very momentary. It quickens to become a memory so fast. It’s important that we have to look deeper and do something deeper. Everything is just a memory and nothing is left in the end. But what can be left behind is not our memories but the results of our work that continue benefit ting others. It is important to do spiritual work and spiritual developments. These have the real lasting value. I am glad all of you are reading this powerful poem full of wisdom and also a gentle warning to us.
Much Care,
Tsem Rinpoche
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Thanks for the powerful poem sharing which means the true process of a life full of wisdom and also a reminder. A life course is the period from birth to death, each phase comes with different responsibilities and expectations, which of course vary by individual and culture.
A meaningful life isn’t found, but created through our actions. And it starts with looking for ways to help others.
https://bit.ly/3EAQQ4Z
This poem is a good reminder that we don’t have much time left and therefore not to dwell into materials that don’t bring benefit to others and ourselves. Everything changes very fast including our life. We have to take this opportunity to learn and practise dharma. When we die, we can’t take away anything but only our karma. Hence, we should do more meaningful things that benefit others. We are so fortunate to have Rinpoche and Kechara here to guide us to the right spiritual path. Thank you Rinpoche.
Everything is impermanent …..nothing reminds just memories but the work that left behind which benefits others is more important.The old man died left with nothing of value ,the poems left was indeed powerful one to remind us to do more meaningful things in life to be remembered.To learn,practice and work for Dharma to benefit others will more meaningful and lasting value.
Thank youRinpoche for sharing this very touching poem.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this poem. It gives me a sentimental feeling when I read it. Immediately I thought about my Grandmother who is in old folks home. She had been the strongest women that I can ever remember. Time goes by and now she had to rely on someone to feed, bath and dress her up. Everything that she pursued, family and wealth has now become a memory for her.
I had told myself that I do not wish to be like her. Dharma is the only thing that worth spending time on. There is nothing outside dharma. I want to be able to cut of my attachments and my delusions that obstructing me. I want to have a meaningful life.
Humbly,
Chris
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing. A Poem full of wisdom that for us to contemplate as life is short and things are impermanent.
The moment I read this poem, it reminds me of what was being taught at the Lamrin Class today-Day 1 of the Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand… as said by the great Lama Tsongkapa “The opportune physical form……….So hard to get, so easily destroyed; It’s like a lightning bolt in the sky”.For both my spouse and my entire life,we have been working really hard to accumulate more monies for purpose of children’s education and our retirement . My spouse had sacrificed 13 years of his life dwelling alone overseas and missing the family every moment (he even missed the moment his children uttering their first word and walking first time) for the sake of “making big money”. If really I was given a second chance to turn the clock back, I wish everyone in the family be able to practise the dharma together harmoniously. I will therefore without further delay make full use of this precious human rebirth to do more good deeds to benefit others and also to share with others the learned Dharma.
Thank you Rinpoche for providing this opportunity.
Reading this poem I am reminded of this poem by Gollum to Bilbo in the Lord Of Rings
This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.
Nothing stays the same, everything is impermanent and keeps on moving. Nothing material did we bring from our previous lives and nothing of material will be bring to the next life.
Wow I really enjoyed reading this poem! Its so touching and sad this man was not recognized until they found his poem, he wrote it so well and now it shares with the world. I saw this on facebook but looked passed it without reading. It carries such a strong meaning we all judge too fast what we see. Nothing is ever lasting except the good that people has done for others. Thank you for sharing this lesson with us Rinpoche.
Death is inevitable. Our self created delusions bring us no where but end up more suffering, yet we are feeding our never ending delusion, like drinking sea water, never ending but end up craving for more. We thought that our family and relationship can bring us permanence happiness, yet we forgot that we will lose them one day. We have successfully fooled ourselves to think that everything is permanent and forgetting that things are just like flowers which will decay in times.
Reading this poem is truly touching and makes me think as growing old like death and taxes, is a guarantee. We always hear older people grumble and nag and most of the time we leave them alone being too busy in our lives. In reading this poem what I hear is what all the elders are saying to us all who are younger. They are only old but was young and played an important role in our lives. So how can we think of them so little just because they are old and not “useful” anymore? This is what I get from this poem. And I reflect on gratitude.
Such a beautiful, touching and true poem… Like what Rinpoche said, its just a memory when all that we are attached to are gone. Everything is just impermanent no matter what. I am happy and glad that I have Rinpoche and Dharma for as long as I live as I know nothing else is more important and it is something I can take with me in every life…
We all without exception will be lying on hospital bed or die one day. From born to die, is a journey of deduction and minus not addition. What really matters is what we have done, done something that is meaningful, benefiting ourselves and others, in between the journey. Memory is not enough, memory is not going to last long…Thanks Rinpoche for the reminder.
Thank you Tsem Rinpoche for sharing this meaningful poeam with us. It’s very touching…… the old man left nothing but he left a very meaningful poem for us. What he wrote is true, it shows the life cycle we need to go through in our life. Besides that it also show “impermanance” of life. Hence, we shouldn’t attached too much on those worldy things such as cars, money,grilfriend,kids etc but we should do something more beneficial to the people whom we know, and to the public. At least the good things that we done will able continue to benefit them whenever we are no longer here.
What is the purpose of our life? What do we achieved in this life before it ended? Do we have any regret?
Living with purpose and benefiting others is more meaningful than living a very long life. If we live very long but is in nursing home with only longings and loneliness, it is a very sad finale to this precious human life.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, “The main thing is to practice bodhicitta. Dying with bodhicitta is the best way to die.”
This poem is written with such profound clarity and honesty… it rings so poignantly true that it is no wonder it has become such a “hit”.
Everyone can certainly identify with this young or old… we can see it will happen, or happening or has happened in our lives wherever stage we are at.
And the truth of the matter is, this man realized THE truth of impermanence and he is sharing it from beyond the grave literally!!! WOW
It is a lovely and touching poem. Its liked a life cycle passing through generation after generation with memories still lingered on through our attachments and cravings. What Rinpoche mentioned here is very true everything is just a memory and nothing is left in the end . What can be left behind is the results of our work that continue benefiting others. Thank you for sharing this poem.
from this old man poem, it strikes me that the old man is indeed still very young at his mind, where his alertness, memories are still very good, but his body or vessel hs degenerated and betrayed hi. We take so much time to take care of this self and body, and eventually it will end. It is our mind that is most important, and we should fill it up or imprint it with knowledge of Dharma, and also to make good use of this body to benefits others.
When the “END” comes, there is another beginning of “END” and hope it will be a better imprints and stronger of Dharma in each one of us.
A very touching and extremely well written poem.
Memories are momentary,but the results of our work that continue benefitting others that matters.Very true indeed.I will remember this daily.Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this beautiful poem.
Thank you for sharing this poem.He was actually full of wisdom.This is very touching.
Dear Rinpoche, thank you for sharing the powerful and sounding poem to remind us the impermanence of human life. Our human body will be deteriorating day by day and we should utilize our body, speech and mind to do more Dharma work and benefit others while we still can. To learn from others especially from this powerful poem is indeed an advantage for us to realize that our current moveable body with much strength should be utilized in a more meaningful way before we reach to our old age. Let’s take poem as our daily reminder of impermanence.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this poem.
We simply forget that we will not live forever, we forget that one day we will age.
In the poem, reading through the line, i “experiences” his life .
What ever he thought he reached the goal of life, it changes, having kids does not guaranty the “safety” of old age. Life is impermanence.
A precious human life gone by reading through the poem
May i remind myself on i am in samsara and everything is impermanent
Most important concept is that, everybody has a spiritual unconsciouness in them. Life has a meaning under all circumstances, even the most miserable ones. Our main motivation for living is our will to find its meaning. We have the freedom to find out the meaning in what and why we do, and whatever the experience in life. But generally, the search for such meaning is normally associated with strong influence in religious belief, group associationship, uncontrollable stress and depression in life. Though man cannot be free from such determinant conditions, it is said that man is capable of resisting and braving even the worst condition, thus shaping his own character and becoming responsible for himself. Best is to adopt our Rinpoche,s stance i.e., “to have work results that continue to benefit others, when we are gone, with such lasting values, especially of spiritual values and developments!” Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
Life becomes meaningless when we do what everyone is doing: eat, sleep, grow up, sex, produce offspring, work, and then repeat the same process again and again. It is obvious from the poem that all that eventually becomes nothing. At the end, we’re still alone & lost. All external things bring no contentment, they brought us no where but deepen our attachment due to our wrong perceptions on them. If life is just about that, it will be a journey wasted for sure!
I work at a nursing home. I take care of eight women some are nuns of the catholic church some ar mothers, a hair dresser a retired nurse, one woman owned a beer distributer. Most of what Im tyiping mean nothing but they are very special to me. I learn from all of them. I have on who is 101 and she never says much but when she sees me she smiles and gigles it is music to me. Thank you for this poem it reminds me of all thoughs who ive taken care of.
We should not see someone by his/her physical features we see them from their geart their inner beauty. Dont judge a book by its cover!!! someone may look dumb but he might be clever.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this profound poem.These made me comtemplate more on impermanence and death.Also remind me that we should do meaningful things especially learning and practice dharma in our life before it’s too late…!!Time wait no one,we should learn more,do more and able to benefit more others !!
The poem is a reflection of anyone’s life whom they’ve lived through, like most of us. It is a reminder of being a child, aging, sickness and finally death. We need to realize we have to find a sense of purpose in our lives, regardless of our background. For after we find that purpose in life, we will find our self.
We are often reminded of old age and death… this poem is a beautiful summary of an ordinary life – from youth to old age, experiencing loss of loved ones, and the unwelcome loss of our faculties. Our mind never gets old but our body will fail every single one of us, so as Rinpoche says, we should make the most of our lives now. The purpose of our lives should be to benefit others and the side-benefit is that we will be able to have a good rebirth so that we need not fear death and know that death is merely a conduit to the next life where we can continue our spiritual journey. The important thing right now is to ensure we stay on a spiritual path.
Having been with my mother for the last week, this poem has great meaning for me. Yes within the old body of my mother there is still this youthfulness that wants to be part of all that we are doing and with the help of my grandsons, we took her everywhere when we were with her in Perth. It was a slow process having to get Mother onto and off the wheel chair and car but it was all worth it as she was very happy.
At the same time, I wished my mother was not trapped by the rules and regulations of this samsaric world, grew up, got married, lived being a daughter, mother and wife but did a lot more to have benefitted others through working with the Dharma. May my merits go to my Mother so that in her next life, she will be able to be always near the Dharma.
May all of us who read this poem realise to use our precious lives to benefit others.
Brought tears to my eyes. Brings to reality of what almost everyone goes thru in life n how we should never overlook others as any different from us…that memories of youth n times of happiness of the past. As life begins for one, another is ending. Nothing is permanent unless the in-between was lived to benefit others thru our actions and speech. The elders should be respected n taken care of as a real person n not just as duty of the day/week/years. There r much to learn from them, their experiences and their life sotries. I love to listen to the older generation telling bout their lives as every generation goes thru changes at such a fast pace. Making use of our precious human lives to reach higher attainments to benefit others instead of seeking temporal samsaric happiness is what we should aspire. Thank u Rinpoche for tis touching story.
There is a lot of wisdom in this poem, despite its supposedly fictional background. This poem reminds me of a short film made using a DSLR and directed by Po Chan called “The Last 3 minutes”. Perhaps the film’s producer was inspired by this poem.
https://vimeo.com/10570139
Whether this poem were written by a “crabbit old woman” or a “cranky old man”. the sentiments expressed are the same.
There is a feeling of regret that the years are passing all too swiftly. Yet there is acceptance of the fact that “nothing can last”. Memories bring a quickening of the heart beat at the recollection of the young man or woman that had been there before.
Yet what is left are mere memories. Everything else has crumbled to dust with time.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this lovely poem and for constantly reminding us of impermanence and transience. Yes,the best reminder is that we can leave something behind – a legacy of kindness and care, fruit of our love and compassion for others.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this profound poem. I have a large , loving family around me and know no loneliness but fear it as I grow older. This is such a great reminder of what is important and to use our lives for the benefit of others, conquering our own ego and awakening and finding true meaning. I have a long way to go but this poem urges me to move on. Thank you Rinpoche.
Thank you dear Rinpoche for sharing this touching poem.
It made me contemplate even more on impermanence.
Cause with every passing minute, everything is changing. Day by day we don’t seem to notice. & very soon, all will just be memories. So we may as well make those memories, lasting positive ones while we are still alive.
Ones that will touch the lives of others and strangers alike. _/\_
Dear Rinpoche thank you for sharing this beautiful poem with us. It is true when physically we are still able we gave to do something to benefit others otherswise it wasted us as a human being who are more capable than the lower realms beings. We got to understand death will come to us any time so do not wait till we are old and unable.
This is a very touching poem on impermanence and how fast our lives passed by. All our lives we chased after worldly desires and most of us are just like this cranky old man. However, it is not how much we have acquired during our lifetime which we are going to leave behind at the time of death but how we should use our lives to benefit others. That is a better legacy to leave behind.
This verse is very touching “So open your eyes, people .. open and see. Not a cranky old man. Look closer . .. . see .. .. . ME!!” We are always so busy with our lives that we neglect the older and the weak and find them a burden, yet we must realize that one day we will end up old and weak too.
While we are still able, we should use it to pursue our spiritual development and not let it go to waste.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this meaningful poem.
All of the things that we have previously and now, we will not be able to bring it with us when we die. We will soon be old, we will soon die… what is important is to do spiritual work & spiritual development. I am very grateful to be working with Rinpoche and Kechara and find the HOME where I belong to. Thank you Rinpoche for being there always for us to guide us to make full use of our lives in a meaningful way while we still have the chance to.
This is such a touching poem indeed. It really shows that you should respect your elders. They have already been through a lot and are very wise. I enjoyed reading the poem Rinpoche. Thank you for sharing.
This is such a beautifully written sad poem. It’s sad because its true in a way. We often treat the elderly like some burden and that’s just wrong. We will all reach that stage at one point in our lives. We should treat evryone with love and respect. After all, the wheel of karma does not discriminate. We get what we give.
Thus poem should be shared to as many people as possible! =)
Thank you for sharing, Rinpoche!
Dear Rinpoche, thanks for sharing this realistic and touching poem with us…
I feel we are so lucky after try to know more and practice Dharma hence guided by Rinpoche. We may use what we learn and practice now not only create more Merits for our next life but we also may help our love one especially our parents to generate more Merits to help them have a better journey after end this life time…
Dear Rinpoche, this is a wonderful poem of old age, impermanence in all physical things as you have mentioned. I have came across it on Facebook not too long ago. It is a good reminder and motivation for everyone to strive in their precious lives. I sensed that there is some form of attachment to youth in this poem. At the same time it reminds us that we can be old externally but what is inside us can be young with vigor, flexible, not dull, and changeable always. Most of us take the path of this old man, born, go to school, finish school, working in job, marry, have kids, grandkids, and wait for the end. However even this path doesn’t work for everyone. We may encountered some life changing events such as accidents, lost of love ones which could set us back. It is not easy, definitely not easy to live our lives. Therefore it is more pertinent to live it well with others.
Reading this poem, it reminds me about my mum who is now 78, skinny, old, weak. She is constantly in fear of death until she refused to go out of the house. She must take xanax to keep her mind calm. She can’t eat anything but wholemeal bread, oat and horlick. I am so grateful that she is so blessed and lucky that she can still clean, eat and walk by herself. I asked her what has she done when she was young that could make her proud of herself. Immediately she said by having the 4 children. She wasted her life 78 years by thinking she has done her job as a mother as a wife. She could have done much more if she met dharma in her young age.
This is very touching, I’ve read a similar poem from my English textbook, the title of the poem was The Crabbit Old Woman. The story of the author was actually quite similar to the old man who wrote the poem above, except that she was a woman. My English teacher liked the poem so much that she kept reading it for more than 5 times, and explained each and every sentence to us. The one sentence that touched me the most was ” So open your eyes, nurses open and see. Not a crabbit old women, look closer..see me! “.
The poem above shows that life is very fragile, we can die anytime. But the most important is that, what we have achieved in our lives before our time is up.
Dear Rinpoche. Thank you. It is indeed a very touching poem. We cannot judge a book by its cover; we cannot judge people just by looking at their faces! As with the cranky old man or crabbit old lady, if we look closer and discover deeper they hv gone thru life with all the joys and challenges anyone of us cld be going thru now and later in life. Ultimately it is not how much material wealth we leave behind but the wealth of joy we create for others ,which is more important. Time goes by really quickly. Life goes by just as fast. Create this joy for others till the end of time !
A touching poem for today’s world.
Many people busy because of money.. get more money…. gain extra abundance…..
When we get what we want, time fly and age already gone.
No longer the 30s’ or 40s’ or 50s’ NOT even 60s’ but 70s’ or 80s’
maybe times up earlier!
So….Wake up!
Life should not be lived just to make memories, but to leave a lasting legacy that will benefit generations to come. As we all know, memories serve us no purpose
I found this explanation regarding the origins of this poem. Apparently, it was adapted from an original poem written quite a number of years ago. However, whatever its origins, it does not take away from the portrayal of the stark reality of a dying old man or woman. This would resonate with anybody and everybody because all of us would have to go through the same thing. That is sad and not much in society and the mass media talks about it or prepares us for what is to come. We have to prepare ourselves with maturity, grace and ultimately with Dharma.
——————-
This touching and thought provoking poem, dubbed “Cranky Old Man”, is currently circulating rapidly via social media posts and email. The poem relates life from the perspective of an elderly man whose nurses may just perceive a “cranky old man” who needs constant care rather than the man – and the rich lived life – behind the aged body. The poem is prefixed by a story that claims that the poem was found among the meager possessions of an old man who died in a nursing home in an Australian country town.
However, the story that comes with this version of the poem is fictional. The poem was not found in the belongings of a nursing home resident in rural Australia as claimed. Nor was it found among the possessions of an old man who died in a hospital in Florida, USA or any other US location. In fact, there have been numerous – equally fictional – US based versions of the poem’s supposed origin.
The poem itself has a long and somewhat convoluted history. The original version of the poem (included below) featured an old woman rather than an old man and was set in the UK. The poem has been known by several names, including “Crabbit Old Woman”, “Kate”, “Look Closer Nurse” and “What Do You See”. For decades, the poem has been included in various publications in the United Kingdom often accompanied by the claim that the poem was found by nursing staff in the belongings of an old woman named Kate who died in a hospital’s geriatric ward. Many versions claim that the hospital was located in Scotland. Others claim the hospital was in England or Wales.
In fact, the provenance of the piece remains somewhat hazy. However, credible reports suggest that the poem may actually have been written by Phyllis McCormack in 1966, who at the time was working as a nurse in a Scottish hospital. In a 2005 report about the poem for ‘Perspectives on Dementia Care’, 5th Annual Conference on Mental Health and Older, Joanna Bornat notes:
Amongst the responses to a small survey which I carried out in 1998 while researching attitudes to the poem 3 (Bornat, 2004) was a cutting from the Daily Mail newspaper in which the son of Phyllis McCormack, whose name is often linked with the poem as its discoverer, explained:
My mother, Phyllis McCormack, wrote this poem in the early Sixties when she was a nurse at Sunnyside Hospital in Montrose. Originally entitled Look Closer Nurse, the poem was written for a small magazine for Sunnyside only Phyllis was very shy and submitted her work
anonymously.
A copy of the magazine was lent to a patient at Ashludie Hospital, Dundee, who copied it in her own handwriting and kept it in her bedside locker. When she died, the copy was found and submitted to the Sunday Post newspaper, attributed to the Ashludie patient. Since my mother’s death in 1994 her work has travelled all over the world…
(Daily Mail, 12 March 1998).
Somehow this explanation rings true, though it immediately begs the question of how the origin story was constructed in the first place and whether the poem depends on an apparent myth for its continuing appeal. Encounters have been mixed as responses to the 1998 survey suggested.
The currently circulating “old man” variant of the piece is apparently an adaptation of the original by US poet David L. Griffith of Texas and can still be seen in its original context on his website. Griffith calls his adaptation of the poem “Too Soon Old” but it is also known as a “Crabby Old Man” and, as in the version included above, “Cranky Old Man.”
The original version of the poem:
Crabbit Old Woman
What do you see, nurses what do you see
Are you thinking when you are looking at me
A crabbit old woman, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit, with faraway 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 for ever 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 are thinking, is that what you see,
Then open your eyes, nurses, you’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I used at your bidding, as I eat at your will,
I am a small child of ten with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters who love one another,
A young girl of 16 with wings on her feet
Dreaming that soon now a lover she’ll meet;
A bride at 20 — my heart gives a leap,
Remembering the vows that I promised to keep
At 25 now I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure, happy home;
A women of 30 my young now grow fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last,
At 40 my young sons have grown and are gone;
But my man’s beside me to see I don’t mourn;
At 50, once more babies play around my knee.
Again we know children, my loved one me
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead,
I look at the future, I shudder with dread,
For my young are all rearing 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
’tis her jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body it crumbles, grace and vigor depart,
There is now a stone where once was a heart
But inside this old carcass 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, nurses open and see
Not a crabbit old women look closer – see me.
What do I see, looking at the picture of the old man?
Face with sunken eyes, dimpled cheeks, lips withdrawn (no more teeth, remember!) — what do we normally see? We see the outer person, the physical being. We do not see beyond that.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank You once again for sharing this beautiful and profound poem from a “cranky” old man. He was actually full of wisdom. Once again, it reminds us of the fallacy of this life. If not lived well, we will waste this one opportunity to achieve ultimate happiness or at least be on the way. Time wait for no one and we should not waste it.
With Folded hands!
KH
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful poem. I completely agree with Rinpoche’s thoughts, this poem is a reminder that all things we wish to cherish, samsaric things, in this life are all impermanent and can end quickly. All we find dear just turns into another. Instead of awaiting death, we should do more with our lives.
Dear friends,
When I read the poem, it reminds deeply the family we attach to, money we make, the fame we have, the food we crave, the house, spouse, fashion, clothes, car, family, trips and all are nice but very momentary. It quickens to become a memory so fast. It’s important that we have to look deeper and do something deeper. Everything is just a memory and nothing is left in the end. But what can be left behind is not our memories but the results of our work that continue benefitting others. It is important to do spiritual work and spiritual developments. These have the real lasting value. I am glad all of you are reading this powerful poem full of wisdom and also a gentle warning to us. Much Care, Tsem Rinpoche
亲爱的朋友：
当我读到这首诗的时候，它令我感触到我们执著的家人，赚取的钱财，拥有的名利，贪著的美食；房子、伴侣 、时尚、衣物、轿车、家人、旅游等等虽然都很好，但是非常的短暂，如梦幻泡影，一顺间就成为记忆。我们一定要往深处去探索，做有意义的事情。要知道每样东西都只是记忆，而且最终还是会失去的。不过，可以永久存在的不是我们的记忆，而是继续利益他人的事业。因此，修行和心灵上的成长是非常重要的。这些才有真正不朽的价值。我很高兴你们在阅读这首令人震撼的诗。它不仅充满智慧，而且对我们是很好的提醒。
詹仁波切