Joy Butler's Bio: Joy is an award winning freelance writer living in Texas. Her interests include reading, animal welfare, health and fitness. Go to her website by clicking on her name at the bottom of the page.
The residents craved attention
At the Old Folk's Nursing Home,
They welcomed any visitors
Who'd take the time to come.
There were kindly volunteers
Every Tuesday of the week,
Who piously gave their time
To read and sing and speak.
One day they brought old Joe,
With his simple, impudent smile.
Retarded and misshapen,
His mind like that of a child.
Old Joe couldn't read or sing
And he didn't have much to say,
But he begged to go and visit,
To Joe it seemed like play.
Concerned with patient welfare
At the Old Folk's Nursing Home,
The nurse was quick to object,
Said Joe should not have come.
Said Joe just might upset them
With improper things he'd say.
She felt he'd be a threat
And he simply could not stay.
Poor Joe just hung his head
As he waited by the door,
Near a wheelchair-bound old man,
Emitting soft snores.
Then the nurses turned their backs
And only a moment passed,
When they heard the old man crying
And hurried back aghast!
One nurse was quite upset,
"Has Joe, here, been unkind?!
I feared that this would happen!
Joe has a dull mind."
But as she wheeled the man away,
To protect him from old Joe,
She saw his withered face
Had a warm and happy glow.
"Sweet Joe just gave me a hug,"
The old man smiled through tears,
"That's the only hug I've had
In nearly fifteen years!"
