Where should I go
to die?
You laugh at geriatric homes
you say they stink of piss,
yet there is no place for me
with you.
It’s an embarrassment to be old;
to have outlived my purpose
I'm a waste of space,
after all
I don’t have a function
in life
I'm defunct, a corpse that
won't lie down.
Tell me where to lie down;
somewhere
where I'll not be seen
or in the way,
then let me be;
leave me in peace to die
at my own pace
with dignity.
2008
Comments
Silver Spun Sand | November 16, 2008 - 16:37
Many issues are raised here, Val and it is indeed a poignant poem.
I think you hit the nail right on the head in these two lines:-
"It’s an embarrassment to be old;
to have outlived my purpose."
All too often this view is reflected in our society. I always think it is a great shame that we do not show the inherent respect to the older generation that is shown in other societies and cultures.
Tina xx