Elderwood Village
Let's workshop this poem about a senior citizen who has had enough of being infantilized by his caregivers
Elderwood Village
After the man
in the old age home yelled
“I’m no kid” in reply
to the infantilizing tone
that bore “Eat your din din,
sweetie," his caregiver took
the hands-up-in-arrest tone—
exaggerated, to fake
cool nonchalance—
of someone anxious
to settle an erect cobra.
"Elderwood Village" is a poignant and sharply critical poem that exposes the dehumanizing aspects of elderly care, specifically focusing on the struggle for dignity and agency in the face of infantilization. It functions as a social commentary lyric, using a specific, vivid interaction to illuminate broader issues within institutional care for the aged. The poem's power lies in its precise observation of power dynamics and its empathetic portrayal of a diminished yet defiant individual.
Formally, the poem is structured as a narrative vignette, building tension through direct dialogue and keen descriptive language. The setting, an "old age home" (Elderwood Village), immediately grounds the poem in a context of vulnerability and institutional control. The direct quote, "“I’m no kid” in reply / to the infantilizing tone / that bore “Eat your din din, / sweetie,”" perfectly captures the man's indignant resistance against a degrading form of address. The caregiver's subsequent reaction is meticulously detailed: she "took / the hands-up-in-arrest tone— / exaggerated, to fake / cool nonchalance— / of someone anxious / to settle an erect cobra." This extended simile is central to the poem's critique. The "hands-up-in-arrest tone" initially suggests surrender or a plea, but the exaggeration and "fake cool nonchalance" reveal a subtle power play. The comparison to "someone anxious / to settle an erect cobra" is particularly potent; it elevates the elder man's defiance to something powerful and dangerous, acknowledging his inner strength and the caregiver's fear of his disruption, despite his physical vulnerability.
Thematically, the poem delves into the struggle for dignity and autonomy in old age, particularly within institutional settings where residents are often stripped of their individuality. The "infantilizing tone" is not merely annoying; it's a profound assault on the man's identity and personhood. His fierce rejection, "I’m no kid," is a desperate assertion of his adult status and a refusal to be reduced. The caregiver's reaction, framed as "settling" a dangerous animal, reveals the underlying tension and fear in the power dynamic: the staff, though ostensibly caring, perceive defiance as a threat to order, and the elderly resident's assertion of self becomes a volatile "cobra" to be managed. The poem subtly critiques the systemic issues within elder care that prioritize control and convenience over the emotional and psychological well-being of residents. It suggests that even well-intentioned caregivers can inadvertently (or consciously) perpetuate a cycle of disempowerment, reducing complex individuals to manageable entities. Ultimately, "Elderwood Village" is a stark reminder of the human need for respect, regardless of age or circumstance, and the profound cost of its denial.
elder care, dehumanization, infantilization, dignity, autonomy, aging, institutional living, power dynamics, defiance, social commentary, respect, vulnerability, human rights, caregiver, psychological impact.