The Nursing Home
The Nursing Home
by James Alexandros Papastamos
I
Imprisoned by such hands of time
That rape, incest, and so infect
The body, mind, perhaps the soul
Of those whose crime was age…at best
II
Each wrinkle drew to map their world
When they were young, its mountains rose
But seas would drown in shallow pools
Of joy, reflection, guilt, remorse
III
Though age, itself, is not so bad
The windows come to those who’ve seen
The best of all and worse to come
May those who’ve aged live on…in dreams
IV
In nursing homes that foster such
poem by James Papastamos
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Related quotes
Social Security Reform
They have found an answer for social security
Put them in a nursing home, no liability
Medicaid and medicare will probably have to pay
Then they'll only live a year or two and become their prey
The nursing home corporations, will get rich
And the social security payments, they can ditch
Who's powerful enough to point a finger at them
Some politicians is where it all will stem
The corporations make large contributions
Giving social security great solutions
Let's change the laws and cap health care liabilty
And hurt the care in nursing homes, supposed to be tranquilty
I guess when people get old, they don't need a voice
After all it's not their own, it's the goverments choice!
poem by Donna Nimmo
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Nursing Home
The moat in my eyes never bring me no sleep
They just strap me inside with the demons I keep
Gotta leave me alone gotta let it be lone
Tired of living, too tired to die
Makes the sharks keep swimming when he dont know why
Gotta get the lean fin
Only thin that he wears
Nursing me to the movie that he shows
Nursing me to the bureau and the ?
Nursing me cant you leave me alone?
Nursing me in a nursing home
Sleeping and working and an old man
Come just to profit my feet with a broken old hose
Stop riding those rails
Stop setting those sails
He likes (boom boogie ? ? )
Hes got an old trombone
While hes laughing at the fires with a broken beat phone
Got a troubled soul
But hes not that cold
(chorus)
Ive been nursed ten years in a nursing home!
Stinking on water I could use me food
He needed big fat gravy on the wake of pot roast
Got a fire inside
Its gonna burn him alive
Talking and struggle till the roof is blown
Got a bed and three squares in a nursing home
Gonna say bye-bye
Hes gonna walk on by
song performed by by Ministry
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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My Room My Prison Be
Looking out my window
at the world outside.
I wonder why I am not out there,
playing around and having fun.
The bars at the windows
are what keeps me here.
They imprison not only me,
but also my heart and soul.
I plead sometimes
for them to disappear,
but my mind will not do it,
as it put them there.
I‘m imprisoned in my fortress,
the place I call my home.
Imprisoned by my mind,
because my mind decrees it so.
Imprisoned by a daily routine,
I find it hard to break,
and sometimes,
I do not want to break it.
Without that daily routine,
what would my life be?
Going around in circles,
until eternity?
My own guilt,
put me in my own prison,
and only I have,
the key to release me.
17 June 2007
poem by David Harris
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Are You Going To See Your Mom?
'Mom,
I come back again.'
I shouted
in my mind.
It is said that
Plane flies fast.
But my heart
flew to my Mom
before the plane landed.
I knew
that my sisters come here
in turn everyday.
Now this day
I would be on duty.
When I stepped into the nursing home,
I saw Mom in a wheel chair,
with more white hair,
and more wrinkles on face.
I gave her a hug,
'Hi, Mom.' I shouted near her ear.
Mom stared me with dull sight,
then held my hands,
'Sister' she called me,
She couldn't recognize me!
I couldn't hold my tears any more.
Mom didn't cry,
just wiped out my tears
using her hand.
When lunch was ready,
I fed her one spoon after another;
Mom nodded her head while she's chewing;
A little smile showed up at the edge of her lips.
I hated that It's time to leave,
I stood up, and said
'Good bye, Mom.'
She looked at me,
held my hands, and asked me:
'Are you going to see your Mom? '
* Mom had dementia two years before and moved into a nursing home.
Also, she has hearing problem.
Are You Going To See Your Mom? *
poem by Jade Huang
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Nursing Home Blue
Nursing Home Blues
I sent mother to a nursing home, she didn´t want
to go but I ignored her wishes, we often do that
when concerning old people, we say it is for their
own good, but the truth is I didn´t know what
else to do. Mother became quite rebellious they
called me from the home she was throwing food
about and demanded, when she evacuated, that
an assistant come and dry her bum.
Wanted to go home, there was no home she had
lived in a rented flat and someone else lived there.
When she knew she she felt betrayed, her silence
was damning. She stopped eating, gaunt, a skeleton
before death came as a relief. Now that I´m old too
families telling me I should not ride on my scooter
in case I might fall off…like should I care.
poem by Oskar Hansen
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We Just Have To Make The Best Of It...
these are the lines of
a 90 year-old widower just put in the nursing home
trying to put the pieces again
those past parts
no longer fit as she agrees with her son
that she does not serve
any purpose
at all in that old house
with a closed door never to be opened again
how she resigned from the usual cooking and baking
and putting the flowers in the vase
half watered
as she talks to another wrinkled woman sitting next to her
she mutters, 'Lady, we just have to make the best of what we are now'
Then the other quipped, 'Do i look ninety? '
Outside the nursing home,
the snow begins to fall.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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The Song Of An Old Man
i
his song is sad
a white man in the nursing home
his children sent him there
and they did not bother
ii
the Filipina nurses him
everyday she takes care of him
as he pees
as he poos
she needs the money
she sends her children back in her country
to school
she needs the green bucks to pay her debts
she too has a sad song
iii
and there in the nursing home
the Filipina and the old white man sing their sad songs
they have broken hearts
one waits for his happy death
another one looks for her sad life
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Most Americans have some experience with nursing homes or other long term care settings, and nearly half have had a family member or close friend in a home in the past three years.
quote by Michael Burgess
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Watch Me
Both now…and then, I set the pace
I’m time itself. I am the truth
My arms reach wide, there’s no escape
I give you age, but rob thy youth
Each moment spent, I waste on those
Who’d squander minutes, rape its hour
I raise the sun, I draw its warmth
I trace its path, then track its power
Just watch me now, I come and go
Alarms ring loud whenever I’m near
My heart runs wild, yet beats for none
Your soul on fire, I sense its fear
How cruel is fate? In time, we’ll know
poem by James Papastamos
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Sonnet: A Bard’s Constitution
My hands tremble when sinful thoughts appear;
My body’s bathed in sweat when act’s over;
What guilt, remorse fills my heart, Oh dear!
My soul is in penitential fever.
My heart is grief-stricken when things go wrong,
And anger fills my mind when world’s at fault;
I feel like cursing men/ women for long;
If given chance, how well they somersault!
A sensitized heart/ mind are found in bards;
The world in which they live, has gone crazy;
Their emotions keep jumping like leopards;
Their life is most often misty/ hazy.
Whatever feels their heart, must become words,
To drive into the heads of human herds!
6-25-2001
poem by John Celes
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Incarnation
Trampling the borders, he started
losing his vibrations.
He was asking for the perpetual forgiveness
for his bandaged ego.
The new incarnation.
For the broken homes
he refused to admit his side of guilt
and jumped into the frozen lake
for nursing his hot blood.
The faithless star.
The world did not exist
in total freedom.
Let him sleep, sulking away,
under the sea of wounds
unlistening to the wailing winds.
Not for the seeds
not for the flowers,
the crowds were assembling for the essence
of the drifting truth.
Nobody knew the red hot destiny.
poem by Satish Verma
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Disappointment
last night a rape of
disappointment ravaged me
its ugly hands invaded my
body and spirit
leaving scars on the tender
and fair skin of my conscience
i curled into a ball of pain
nursing bleeding lips
and acidic skin
tears trickling down the closed eyes
dissolved into the smears
of hymen- blood and semen
dotting the sheets…
from expectation to
disappointment to
sorrow is the trajectory,
spoke the buddha’s voice
so far lying buried deep within
not attempting to dry my tears
but allowing them to cleanse
my body and spirit…
31dec2009
04.05hrs
poem by Indira Babbellapati
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Itzhak Perlman
HE loves most
the violin
because
it is sad
and all he cared
most of the time
was nursing his sadness
like it were
a very important visitor
in her house feeding it
with so much nice
accommodations
caring for it
nursing a wound
wishing that it
will not heal
there is something
strange about you
itzhak
while all the rest have
gone to the beach
to play
because the wounds
have healed
you wished that the wound
would stay fresh forever
like a violin song floating in the air wishing that it would not disappear.
poem by Ric S. Bastasa
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Only The Good Die Young
The demon in your mind will rape you in your bed at night
The wisdom of ages the lies and outrages concealed
Time it waits for no man
My future is revealed
Time it waits for no man
My fate is sealed
If I cancel tomorrow the undead will thank me today
Fly in the space of your prophets I mock your morality plays
The moon is red and bleeding
The sun is burned and black
The book of life is silent
No turning back
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
Only the good die young
Mistery madman a victim of cruel charade
Some innocent pawn in an end game one more stalemate
Is death another birthday?
A way to kiss your dreams goodbey?
Do the undead live within us?
And look through our eyes?
Walking on water are mirarcles all you can trust
Measure your coffin does it measure up to your lust
So I think Ill leave you
With your bishops and your guilt
So until the next time
Have a good sin
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
All the evil seems to live forever
Only the good die young
Only the good die young
Seven deadly sins
Seven ways to win
Seven holy paths to hell
Seven downward slopes
Seven bloodied hopes
Seven are your burning fires
Seven you desires...
song performed by by Iron Maiden
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black & White People
One more day down
Everybody has those days
Where one soft sweet song's
Just enough to clear my head
Fall on real life
Is anybody left there sane?
If we slide on over and accept fate
Then it's bound to be a powerful thing
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
One boy head strong
Thinks that living here's just plain
He's pushed down so hard
You can hear him start to sink
And it's one last round of petty conversation
You hold on boy 'cuz
You won't go down like this?
Just roll over
Lay down till it's more than you can take
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
So one more day down
And everybody's changin'
One soft sweet sound
Is just enough to clear my head
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
Yeah if you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
song performed by by Matchbox 20
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black & White People
One more day down
Everybody has those days
Where one soft sweet song's
Just enough to clear my head
Fall on real life
Is anybody left there sane?
If we slide on over and accept fate
Then it's bound to be a powerful thing
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
One boy head strong
Thinks that living here's just plain
He's pushed down so hard
You can hear him start to sink
And it's one last round of petty conversation
You hold on boy 'cuz
You won't go down like this?
Just roll over
Lay down till it's more than you can take
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
So one more day down
And everybody's changin'
One soft sweet sound
Is just enough to clear my head
If it's just that you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
Yeah if you're weak
Can we talk about it
It's gettin' so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the Technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
song performed by by Matchbox Twenty
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Outside My Picture Window
It has been said that there is a world outside my picture window and
Beyond the trees I see everyday and the sky, sometimes overcast and
Other days, when the sun rises early- I can see the sky and have often wondered if
There exists another world within our universe- I know that
There exists a world inside of my mind and
My pupils are the windows into which
People would look if I were to venture outward?
Beyond the sky, and beyond the sun-
Beyond that world inside my mind,
I would never know where there exists a place for me-
Last night outside of my window
I could see the stars- stars mean different things to different people as
Does the sun, the trees and this whole world outside-
The world inside my mind revolves about
The sun that shines upon my own horizon and
As for this world outside, all I can do is look- and to
See a tree, perhaps a single cloud and the grass that grows-
I have shut my mind to the people who live beyond
The trees, clouds and the grass that I can see-
That window opens to the world inside of my thoughts-
I have just shut and pulled the curtain to discourage all intruders-
I am lying by my window in total darkness now as I place my hand over my eyes,
Shutting out reality and now I can see mountains, flowering trees and
A creek flowing in which I can see my reflection and
I am running upon the grass that grows beneath my feet-
I believe I heard music playing inside the fortress of my mind-
It has been said there is a world outside and I have pulled the curtain
To the window once opened to veracity-
Darkness has never looked as beautiful as I am safe here in my solitude-
Even when the stars are shining and the sky is such a magnificent sight to see-
No place is as exquisite as the creek that runs through my inner space and
The sun inside the world of my thoughts that shines upon my horizon?
The stars are far away and all that is real, though just outside my picture window
I perceive as too far away for me to reach- I would touch the stars and I could be a dove
That can lift my wings and fly away from all that threatens, but only inside my dreams-
Children sing songs and read fairy tales and they believe and I believe that
The sun shines light upon their worlds and
Someday their dreams shall blossom as has mine and shall become their homes-
Home is the safe place inside a person's mind, not within the madding crowd that
Exists outside my picture window- even if the stars are always there- and
That unique and special sun shall just keep on shining upon the world of my dreams….
poem by Claudia Krizay
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Black White People
One more day down
Everybody has those days
Where one soft sweet songs
Just enough to clear my head
Fall on real life
Is anybody left there sane?
If we slide on over and accept fate
Then its bound to be a powerful thing
If its just that youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
One boy head strong
Thinks that living heres just plain
Hes pushed down so hard
You can hear him start to sink
And its one last round of petty conversation
You hold on boy cuz
You wont go down like this?
Just roll over
Lay down till its more than you can take
If its just that youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
So one more day down
And everybodys changin
One soft sweet sound
Is just enough to clear my head
If its just that youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
Yeah if youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
song performed by by Matchbox Twenty
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Black White People
One more day down
Everybody has those days
Where one soft sweet songs
Just enough to clear my head
Fall on real life
Is anybody left there sane?
If we slide on over and accept fate
Then its bound to be a powerful thing
If its just that youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
One boy head strong
Thinks that living heres just plain
Hes pushed down so hard
You can hear him start to sink
And its one last round of petty conversation
You hold on boy cuz
You wont go down like this?
Just roll over
Lay down till its more than you can take
If its just that youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
So one more day down
And everybodys changin
One soft sweet sound
Is just enough to clear my head
If its just that youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
Yeah if youre weak
Can we talk about it
Its gettin so damn creepy
Just nursing this ghost of chance
The fiction, the romance
And the technicolor dreams
Of black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
We are black and white people
song performed by by Matchbox 20
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Drowned
Turn me into, another corner.
See Im sideways, Im unopened.
I let it before I lose myself, Im empty and inspired alone
And I swear, I can say to you. and I swear, I can say to you.
So I write it down, and slip away from faith.
Frustrated and anxious to grow.
Addressed in clothes that never fit my mind,
Letters said but never closed last time,
And I can say to you. and I swear, I can say to you.
You tell me...
Oh, when did we start to drown,
You see Ill hold you there.
Oh, when did we start to drown,
Cant you see its time we made it home.
Oh, when did we start to drown? (drown...)
When did we start to
When did we start to drown...
So I see you turn it into your lines my way.
You see Im angry, and Ill set you straight.
Let it before I loes control,
You find out, and Ill fight it alone.
And I swear, I can say to you. and I swear, I can say to you.
Yes, I swear, I can say to you.
Somebody tell me,
Oh, when did we start to drown,
You think Ill hold you there.
Oh, when did we start to drown,
Can you see its time we made it home.
Oh, when did we start to drown?
Always on my mind, time for you temper.
Always on my mind, sent to my mind I know.
Always on my mind, Ill hold your thoughts I swear, always...
So you turn me, so you turn it...
Turn me into another corner,
And you put me in this, this other corner.
Turn it into another corner,
Youll tell me...
When did we start to drown,
You see Ill hold you there.
Oh, when did we start to drown?
Cant you see its time we made it home
Oh, when did we start to,
Drown? ? ? ...
song performed by by Candlebox
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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