What do you see when you enter this place?<br /> The shuffling gait, the vacant face?<br /> "Terrible, terrible" most people say<br /> "Life shouldn't have to end this way."<br /> But in each dark and damaged brain<br /> A wealth of memories still remain<br /> of lives that were lived to the full extent<br /> And that is where their days are spent.<br /> <br /> A mother remembers the children she had<br /> The beautiful babies, their proud young dad.<br /> Watching them grow, the boys straight and tall<br /> The girls in their beauty, loving them all.<br /> <br /> Cleaning the house, washing the clothes<br /> Busy all day, no time for repose<br /> The dinners she cooked, the socks she knit<br /> All the hard work, never minded a bit<br /> <br /> Picking berries up on the hill<br /> In golden September with the air so still.<br /> Filling the buckets up to the brim<br /> with Mary and Bill, Joe and young Jim.<br /> <br /> The old man remembers his days on the sea<br /> Catching the fish, a mug up of tea.<br /> The sight now dim, but eyes blue as ever<br /> That scanned the sky for signs of weather.<br /> <br /> Going into the woods on a winter's day<br /> With his faithful horse, he called her May.<br /> Cutting the wood and hauling it home<br /> He had no help, he did it alone.<br /> <br /> Back to the house, where the fire is bright<br /> The lamps are lit against the dark of night.<br /> The new baked bread with its wonderful smell<br /> The children are home and all is well.<br /> <br /> Some we call "Nan" or "Pop" each day<br /> No disrespect, it's the Newfoundland way.<br /> These names of endearment, we use to our own<br /> Makes them remember grandchildren, now grown.<br /> <br /> The children visit, the roles are changed<br /> The pattern of life now re-arranged.<br /> The child is the parent, the parent the child<br /> The bond is still there, the love not spoiled.<br /> <br /> So they live in their memories of days long past<br /> And when their lives are over at last.<br /> May they go to that place where happiness reigns<br /> And all the memories are real again.<br />   Submitted By: NULL