I once met an old lady who I cared for as a nurse ,
I washed her and I dressed her , on my shower list she came first .
She told me she was sick of living and wished death would come ,
I told her it wasn’t up to her when her life was done .
She sat there everyday surrounded by familiar things ,
Some say its never over until the fat lady sings .
Weary of the long days and oh so teary in the night ,
She was a nice old lady who died when the time was right .

I once met an old man , I cared for in a nursing home .
In thinking and reflecting he was happy on his own ..
He liked to talk and helped him walk when he asked me to .
For himself the personal care issues where much to hard to do .
After he died I went back to visit his empty room ,
To say a silent prayer and then back to my work resume .
With his soul at peaceful rest and his body free from pain .
I said goodbye to an old man who left this mortal plain .

A young man came to the nursing home ,we became good mates .
In busy times we said hello ,for him I said time waits .
Though brain injured and dependant he needed something more ,
Just a smile or recognition when you came in the door .
Peacefully in his wheelchair he watched people rushing past ,
When pneumonia came by surprise they said he wouldn’t last .
Sometimes we look for people and discover that they have gone .
Suddenly there was a space , the young lad I knew passed on .

I’ve met lots of people in nursing homes some young , some are old .
One thing we share in common is a bond of trust we hold .
Its easy to get attatched when you’re caring for those who ,
Depend upon you being there to daily help them through .
So as long as there are people who genuinely care ,
Some one’s final moments will be much easier to bear .
God give me the strength to help others living here today .
As the day will surely come for us all to pass away .

By Paul McCann