The poem that touched you
By Jayne Warren - 28/11/2007
When we printed Margaret Rea's short letter asking if anyone recognised a few lines of a poem about an old lady in a nursing home, little did we realise what we had started!
We received an avalanche of emails, calls and letters from Mature Times readers across the UK - all of whom sent in the full poem, some cut out from newspapers, some hand copied, others typed or emailed, and many with moving personal stories of how and why they knew it. They are still coming in.
Can we say, from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much to everyone who has got in touch. It will probably prove impossible to reply to everyone personally, or mention them in this article. However, a longer version of this piece will appear on our website.
But things became even more interesting. We discovered that the poem was originally written in 1966 by Phyllis McCormack, a Scottish nurse who worked in a geriatric ward. Appalled by the lack of compassion and care that some of the nurses showed to the patients, she wrote the poem anonymously for the hospital magazine. It later became more widely published.
In the 1980s, an elderly patient called “Kate” who had no speech but was seen to write, then copied it out, and when she died in the geriatric ward of Ashludie Hospital, near Dundee, nurses going through her possessions found the poem. The staff were so impressed that they duplicated it and distributed it to every nurse in the hospital. It has since appeared in numerous journals and newspapers.
Then, in 2003 the poem was made into a short film, by Amanda Waring, called “What do you see” - in memory of her mother, Dame Dorothy Tutin - and stars the great British actress, Virginia McKenna. A DVD is available which costs £11.49 including P&P, and all proceeds go directly direct to Macmillan Cancer Relief and Help the Aged. A cheque can be sent to: Looking for Magic Ltd, Becketts, Tripp Hill, Fittleworth, West Sussex RH20 1ER.
It is also available online at www.amandawaring.com. But be warned - keep a pack of tissues nearby when you watch, because McKenna's performance is utterly heart-rending.
Your letters:
“This poem reminds me to treat all of our senior citizens with respect. If only young people realised what some older people have done in their lifetime they might be amazed and view them differently. I hope Maureen enjoys reading the poem again.” Brenda Kimmins (by email)
“A competent doctor, my Mum was often annoyed by how patronisingly the elderly were treated, and in her nineties found the poem which echoed her thoughts. I made her an album of photos showing her life from babyhood, using the poem all the way through as it was so apt as she aged. In her final years she loved looking at it with all the photos of her life. We read it aloud at her funeral in 2005. Many people there asked for copies of the poem as it was so beautiful.”
Jenny Sakamoto, Bournemouth
“My mother gave me this poem thirty years ago and it still tugs at my heart strings.”
Barbara Black, Manchester
“I am 91 and used to recite this poem in my chapel. It reminds us all that we were young once.”
Ivy Holley, Gwent
“Coincidentally, on the same day I read Margaret's request, I was handed a photocopy of that very poem!”
Beverly Watters, Plymouth Age Concern
“This poem was read out at my Aunt's funeral a few years ago. She died at the age of 96 and was a Nurse for 35 years and it was just a wonderful reflection of her life.”
Meryl Jenkins, South Wales.