Buried In Dust

[Dark Muse]

Buried In Dust

They are now the forgotten,
treated no better then children,
watching with sad eyes
and wondering how this happened.

There was a time
when they were regarded
as sages; the wise men
and wise women.

Once they were listened to;
treated with respect
and dignity, for their experience
and commendable years.

What has come of those days?
When now they are ignored;
laughed at; humored.

An age that regards itself
as civilized; far advanced,
walked over; steps on;
brushed aside a generation.

A generation once heeded,
now wheedled away, over the years
they have become what we made
them; expected of them.

A pest; a nuisance;
infants in diapers;
invalids needing to be
waited upon.

Former leaders of men,
speakers of truth,
and holders of wisdom.

This is what they have
been reduced to,
the forgotten ones
watching with sad eyes.

[qimissung]

Oh, this is beautiful, Dark Muse. My parents are in their 80's now, and they seem to be doing well; it has been hard to watch their world get so very small. I was thinking the other day why we don't have day care centers and senior centers and parks nearer each other, in a little triangular setting. It could be such a natural way of keeping us involved in the lives of the elderly. A very idealized vision, I realize.

Thank you for sharing your poem.

[Dark Muse]

Thank you for your coments

[goldenrod]

You have pierced the heart of the situation.The custom of the Inuit of the past, of leaving the old and infirmed on a ice floe to starve and freeze to death had a certain savage necessity to it. What excuses do we have!

goldenrod.

[firefangled]

Dark Muse, this is a sad poem, but so often true. My stepfather was an Airforce officer and prisoner of war in WWII and a great leader. He struggles now at 93 to maintain that same bearing, and as much as he succeeds it is exhausting for him.

This is a beautiful poem that demonstrates great respect. Thank you.

[Dark Muse]

Thank you for your comments

[Riesa]

Very nice of you to remind us of the importance the elderly have, I worry about my own parents now, edging towards their 70's and to me they are still so full of vim and vigour, ..and so we all go that way..

[PrinceMyshkin]

I share the admiring comments of the preceding posts, but would like to point to a typo in



infants in dippers;

where surely you meant diapers?

[Dark Muse]

Oops, thank you for catchign that one. Yes I did

[formality hater]

I really liked it!
How very touching and unfortunately, very true!

[ctalerico]

Admirable of you to expose our present inhumanity to Man whom, in this instance, you have focused upon as "the forgotten ones."

[blazeofglory]

Buried In Dust

They are now the forgotten,
treated no better then children,
watching with sad eyes
and wondering how this happened.

There was a time
when they were regarded
as sages; the wise men
and wise women.

Once they were listened to;
treated with respect
and dignity, for their experience
and commendable years.

What has come of those days?
When now they are ignored;
laughed at; humored.

An age that regards itself
as civilized; far advanced,
walked over; steps on;
brushed aside a generation.

A generation once heeded,
now wheedled away, over the years
they have become what we made
them; expected of them.

A pest; a nuisance;
infants in diapers;
invalids needing to be
waited upon.

Former leaders of men,
speakers of truth,
and holders of wisdom.

This is what they have
been reduced to,
the forgotten ones
watching with sad eyes.

Dark Muse, that is the reality of the thing and nothing can endure the test of time, and we are simply dusts or quivers of the dusts that have to be settle finally. Taking from that corner life is nothing but a bunch of nothing other than fading flowers.

[dibyendra]

Dark Muse, it's a very realistic poem yet very touching too. I liked your poem very much.