John William

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

WHAT DO YOU SEE THEN? WHAT DO YOU SEE?
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING WHEN YOU LOOK AT ME?
A SLOW WITTED OLD MAN, NOT VERY WISE
UNCERTAIN OF HABIT, WITH FARAWAY EYES.
WHO DRIBBLES HIS FOOD AND MAKES NO REPLY
WHEN YOU SAY IN A LOAD VOICE "OH I WISH YOU WOULD TRY!"
WHO SEEMS NOT TO NOTICE THE THINGS THAT WE SAID
AND SPENDS MOST OF HIS DAYS IN A WHEELCHAIR OR BED
WHO UNRESISTING OR NOT, LETS YOU DO AS YOU WILL
WITH BATHING AND FEEDING, THE LONG DAY TO FILL
IS THAT WHAT YOUR THINKING? IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE?
THEN OPEN YOUR EYES, YOUR NOT LOOKING AT ME.
I'LL SAY WHO I AM AS I SIT HERE SO STILL
AS I MOVE AT YOUR BIDDING, AS I EAT AT YOUR WILL
I'M A CHOIRBOY OF 10 WITH FATHER NO MOTHER
BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO LOVE ONE ANOTHER
A YOUNG MAN OF 16 WITH WINGS AT MY FEET
ENJOYING MY YOUTH AND LIFE IS SO SWEET
IN THE ARMY AT 20 SEEING THE WORLD
DREAMING THAT ONE DAY I'LL MEET THE RIGHT GIRL
AT 25 THE WAR LOOMS WITH DREAD
I SEE THE ACTION IN TOBRUCK, I LOOSE MY LEG
P.O.W. IN ITALY, THEN HOME, LIFE OVER IT SEEMS
BUT IT'S THERE THAT I MEET THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS
MARRIED NOW AT 30, MY YOUNG GROWING FAST
BOUND TO EACH OTHER WITH TIES THAT SHOULD LAST
NOW 40 AND MY SMALL FAMILY HAS GROWN
I'M PROUD OF MY 5, MY WIFE AND MY HOME
NOW 55, ONCE MORE BABIES PLAY AROUND MY KNEE
FOR NOW I HAVE GRAND CHILDREN, MINNIE AND ME
MY RETIREMENT IS HERE , A NEW STORY BEGINS
OF GOOD TIMES TOGETHER, GROWING OLD WITH MY MIN
BUT DARK DAYS ARE UPON ME, MY OLD LIFE IS DEAD
I LOOK AT THE FUTURE, I SHUDDER WITH DREAD
FOR MY YOUNG ARE ALL BUSY WITH LIVES OF THEIR OWN
A STROKES TAKEN MY FEEDOM, I'M TORN FROM MY HOME
I'M AN OLD MAN NOW, AND NATURE IS CRUEL
IT'S HER JEST TO MAKE OLD AGE LOOK LIKE A FOOL
THE BODY IT CRUMBLES, STRENTH AND VIGOUR DEPART
END MY DAYS IN AWHEEL CHAR? IT'S BROKEN MY HEART
INSIDE THIS OLD BODY A YOUNG MAN STILL DWELLS
AND NOW AND AGAIN MY BATTERED HEART SWELLS
WITH PRIDE FOR MY WIFE
WHO I'LL LOVE TILL THE STARS CEASE TO SHINE
I THINK OF THE YEARS, ALL TOO FEW, GONE SO FAST
AND ACCEPT THE SAD FACT THAT NOTHING CAN LAST
JUST OPEN YOURS EYES, PLEASE OPEN AND SEE
NOT A SLOW WITTED OLD MAN, LOOK CLOSER
SEE ME. . .

WRITTEN FOR JOHN WILLIAM FOSTER
(BILL)

BORN 28 - 12 - 1913
DIED 5 - 2 - 1998
REMEMBERED WITH LOVE AND PRIDE