| GOLDEN YEARS? |
Remember when "old" meant experienced? When seniors were asked for advice? Nowadays that attitude's nowhere around And what's replaced it is not very nice! The elderly were always admired Their wisdom was cause for respect... But today, it's far different...for most of us Can look forward to a thing called "neglect!" Society simply no longer has need For those who've officially retired... Once out of the workforce you'll be ignored Just as if you'd already expired! In other countries and cultures it's different The aged are still treated like treasure And helping to care for your Mom & your Dad? Is an honor that cannot be measured! But here in the states the solution Is a totally opposite trend Nursing homes and state institutions Isolated from family and friends... That's reality for most aging Americans In this...the greatest nation on earth... Golden years spent in some warehouse Treated as if you've no worth! Long ago,, all grandparents were teachers.. Most lived with grown children at home And children were richer...examples were set Watching families take care of their own Grandma dispensed love and cookies In a kitchen that always smelled sweet While the little ones breathed in the history From the stories heard at Grandpa's feet. Yet a young mother spends countless hours On line trying to learn how to cook But Mom could have parted with delicious techniques That won't be found in a website or book! And a young father will pay some consultant A small fortune to manage his cash His dad would have showed him...he did it for years But the son never once thinks to ask... Yes, the children are inevitably busy Attending to lives of their own They may manage a holiday visit or two But the rest of the time you're alone... And it's very sad, but true I'm afraid The old adage that’s been proven sound... Everytime someone who's very old dies? Another library burns to the ground. Dusty Richardson 9/2007 |
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