Don't put your Dad in a home

Don’t put your Dad in a home kidsIt isn’t a nice place to beThe people are old, the foods always coldWith everything smelling of pee Don’t put your Dad in a home kidsYou know that it wouldn’t be fairThey feed you alright and watch through the nightBut you know that they don’t really care So, don’t put your Dad in a home kidsIt is not where he’d like to expireJust let him stay, till he goes on his wayWith his slippers in front of the fire

— shazbat, Apr 21, 2010

About This Poem

About the Author

Region, Country: Norfolk, UK, GBR

Favorite Poets: Kipling, T.S Eliot, Hilaire Belloc, Ogden Nash, Spike Milligan and many more.

Critiques

shazbat

16 years 1 month ago

My dear man, this is in no

My dear man, this is in no way a critisism of care homes, but no matter how good the home is, I would not want to be in one even though I know that the majority do a first class job. This particular piece is based on a conversation I had with my father, who, by the way, is almost 90. I visit him every weekend (its a 5 hour round trip) to ensure that he keeps his independance, if and when it gets too much for him he will come to live with me. He had an accident at Christmas and spent six weeks in hospital, where he was very well looked after, but I could tell that it was slowly killing him and if he had had to stay there for much longer he would have lost the will to live. I'm pleased to say that now he is back in his own house he is his normal chirpy chatty self and full of the joys of spring. John

xena465

16 years 1 month ago

Dear Shazbat

I think this is a wonderful poem. I would never have placed my dad or my mum in a home. My dad is gone now and my mum died very young (49), but we looked after her for years, she had MS, before she died. Not all homes are bad, most are wonderful, but I think people should look after their parents when old. Rosina xena465

shazbat

16 years 1 month ago

Rosina, I’m glad you

Rosina, I'm glad you enjoyed this one, I know that most homes do a fantastic job but, for me, it would be like being sentenced to life without parole, and would they put up with me playing the banjo (very badly) at 3 in the morning. John

xena465

16 years 1 month ago

Dear Shazbat

There are the odd few that slip the net and do treat old people badly. That's why I liked the honesty of the poem. Rosina xena465

shazbat

16 years 1 month ago

There’s always going to be

There's always going to be the odd bad egg in all walks of life, as for honesty I'm afraid thats the way I'm made especially with those in authority or think they are better than anyone else, John

judyanne

16 years 1 month ago

i so love this

i've worked with the elderly most of my life i'm nearly there myself now please can i sit and share your fire? i'll bring my own slippers. lol judy

shazbat

16 years 1 month ago

Judy, hang on a mo and

Judy, hang on a mo and I'll nip out and get a few more logs :) so glad that you liked it John

shazbat

16 years 1 month ago

Thanks for reading this, its

Thanks for reading this, its good to know that it has been read and hopefully enjoyed, it is unfortunate, but I'm afraid that the majority of stuff thats written diappears into the ether and is only ever seen by a very few people.As you so rightly say it's a crying shame that people do not take their family responsibilities seriously anymore. My father is 90 next year and he broke his hip over christmas, luckily enough his neighbours have been absolutely brilliant at making sure that he gets everything he needs. John

xena465

16 years 1 month ago

Yes Truthslayer you're so right

There are the unfortunate people who have no one, and thank God there are places like yours that can care for them and keep them safe. Rosina xena465