Reality

I'm well aware of the awkwardness and discomfort my amateur attempts at poetry may create.  However, with someone in the U.S. developing Alzheimer's disease every 66 seconds and 1 of 3 seniors dying of Alzheimer's or another dementia, there are realities that must be reckoned with!  Hear then THIS reality.

multiple falls
unobserved
discovered
dutifully recorded
curtly reported
verbally impaired
mental skills questionable
pain variably
undetected
misinterpreted
ignored
dismissed
till she no longer walked but
was lifted
and shifted
then bed's exclusivity
claimed her
leaving
her pain (and ours)
still variably
undetected
misinterpreted
ignored
dismissed
(rlg, 7/4/2016)

UPDATE:
Someone whom I invited to try out this poem said, "That is beautiful and so sad.  (((Hugs)))"
To that, I responded:  "I need to make it less sad.  I'm not sad."
I'm trying to figure out how to do that (make it less sad).
And I also confess that sometimes I AM sad.

11 comments:

  1. I don't know if you can make it less sad.

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    Replies
    1. Hmmmmm. Maybe not. Sometimes sad is may be the most appropriate response.

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    2. Some things are supposed to make us sad.

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  2. My dear mother in law has short term memory loss. She also has had several strokes over the last few years - mini ones, but they are taking their toll. She is 94, will be 95 this October. We think she is declining more quickly now. My husband's sister is the one who supervises her care in Florida. We may be heading down before too long.

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    Replies
    1. I hope you can make that trip before she doesn't know you! You won't regret it (but you already know that)...

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  3. Sad little poem. The subject is sad and always has an unhappy end so I can't imagine how you could make it a happier poem. Well done.

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    Replies
    1. There IS comfort and a Comforter, but that doesn't eliminate sadness, I guess...

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  4. Hi Rebecca............
    I don't know if you could or should make it less sad. It is a sad disease.....
    and that is just the reality of it. We can accept it for what it is, but when it is
    your loved one it is a sad thing to watch.......I think comfort comes when the lORD OF
    Heaven comes and takes them home, and you know they are no longer suffering or scared or trapped in these earthly tents.........they get their real healing then......how
    comforting it is to know that..........and I know that you already know that.........

    God Bless you for staying the course with your Mom..........what a precious gift that
    is to her and all who watch it..........

    Blessings, Nellie

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    Replies
    1. Yes, that will be the Ultimate Comfort ♥

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  5. I find myself sad these days, myself, sweet Friend, but I do understand that it's a fine line between rejoicing in still having the loved one here and trying to cram as much as you can into each visit....to being sad when you walk away and not recognizing the woman of your youth. Then, there's always the "what if" this becomes me, too? Prayers for you, sweet Friend.

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  6. Yes! All of that.....And finally, it comes down to trying to figure out what, if anything, you can do for them. Yesterday it was giving gentle shoulder rubs, massaging her feet, a scalp massage and offering drinks of water/juice. Thank you for your prayers and God brings us to your heart.

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Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)