When Old… Poem by Dr John Celes

When old
and you can hardly eat,
or take care of yourself,
or remain neat;

with shrinking brain
that functions less with time,
you sit for hours
with vacant eyes!

with not a soul
to even talk
or enquire
if you are well;

despite the fact
you did so well
in life on earth
when you were hale;

you did your part
and duties swell,
but even kith and kin,
fail to acknowledge this;
the hours and days
pass lazily,
and love of world
ebbs off with time!

oh, how the aged wish
and dream about
the ones they love
to come and talk!

Oh, how they pine
For kinder words
From relatives and friends,
and those around!

Oh, what a wretched, selfish world,
these modern days appear to be!
With generation gap getting bigger,
Youngsters spend a life of chaos!

They care not for their elderly –
Who reared them all with love;
They neglect them and argue:
‘Who should look after them? ’


They aim and fight
For parents’ wealth
But hardly care
About their health!

They do not ever think
That the elderly
were so great
once upon a time.

and all that the aged
expect from the youth
is a bit of love
and care and talk!

which they hanker for
but never get
and even pray to God
to end their days of woes forthwith!

Old-age is blessed, yet painful;
The elderly still serve whole-heartedly
Those, who fail to return their love,
Until the very last!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 3-4-2013