The Nursing Home

By peril_notion

Such interesting individuals
With so much they can share
Brought to such a place
By ones who say they care

But they're unfairly treated
When there's nothing they can do
These helpless, fragile human beings
Don't deserve what they're put through

Handled rough by care takers
Thrown around like dolls
Not entirely incoherant
Despite the fact their tongue lolls

Much more than a paycheck
Lonley breaks their frail hearts
All you see is a vegetable
Wipe their ass and complete their charts

Worldly in the way of life
Their own families grown
Now they spend hours each day
No human contact, all alone

Look at them for who they are
And treat them as precious gold
For if we don't empower our past
Our bright future is nothing but cold

Unauthorized Copying Is Prohibited. Ask the author first.
Copyright 2005 Heather K. Burnett
Published on Tuesday, June 28, 2005.     Filed under: "Non-Fiction" and "Poetry"
Log In or Join (free) to see the special features here.

Comments on "The Nursing Home"

Log in to post comments.
  • ApathysKiss On Saturday, August 27, 2005, ApathysKiss (377)By person wrote:

    ah well said heather, finally read this. this place always tugs at my heart. i respect the elderly more than anyone in this world...

  • ApathysKiss On Saturday, August 27, 2005, ApathysKiss (377)By person wrote:

    they have endured far more than our generation only to be discarded they way many families do. this is always on the news and i'm not entirely confident things have changed.

  • ApathysKiss On Saturday, August 27, 2005, ApathysKiss (377)By person wrote:

    i could never have the heart to throw away something who gave me life from the day i was born. absolute fav =) ~michelle

  • Elise On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, Elise (187)By person wrote:

    Wow, very much felt. This is why I always promised never to put someone I love in a nursing home. Such cruelty, disrespect to the ones we should respect most.

  • Buckwise McDickermeat On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, Buckwise McDickermeat (6)By person wrote:

    i'm usually not one for super structured rhyme schemes, but this poem has a great message. i believe in the asian culture of respect for one's elders, and strength in wisdom. this only helped to reinforce how fucked our culture is.

  • A former member wrote: ooohhh woah. a wicked blow to the human ego. Slap the smiles off the faces of the cruel. I stand next to tim, here.

Contribution Level

peril_notion's Favorite Poets
peril_notion's Favorite Works
Share/Save This Post



Join DarkPoetry Join to get a profile like this for yourself. It's quick and free.

How to Criticize Without Causing Offense
© 1998-2024 DarkPoetry LLC
Donate
[Join (free)]    [More Poetry]    [Get Help]    [Our Poets]    [Read Poems]    [Terms & Privacy]

Attention: Darkpoetry is now in maintenance mode and will be shutting down soon. Save your work if you wish to keep it.