Poems That Bring Awareness To Alzheimer's Disease - November

Your time has come to leave us, Mum.
Dad called you back to him.
The ballroom floor is ready
For your dancing to begin.

Although you left some time ago,
As your memory slipped away,
I hope you were remembering
When you danced the nights away.

You did so much throughout your life
But so much you couldn't recall.
I knew it was in there somewhere,
but it was hard to find it all.

You remembered lovely flowers
And the songs you used to sing,
Dancing to the operas,
And the joy they used to bring.

But it was hard for you to remember
Just who I was to you,
And you didn't know my name, Mum;
That was hard to recall too.

Once the fog has lifted,
And it's clearer for you to see,
I hope you will remember
Just how much you meant to me.

When dementia creeps in through the back door,
Loving is needed, like never before...

An expressionless face, an empty heart,
A once dazzling life that had lost its spark.
I saw your sad tears and felt every fear
Of foggy days that for you never cleared.

All disappeared, those happy golden years,
Memories you held, so precious, so dear.
The loveliest of smiles, gone without trace.
Who was that stranger who dwelt in your place?

Tenderness was missing, none existing.
Care and affection you were resisting.
It sure broke my heart to see you like that
When we'd shared love and friendship in the past.

My one and only forever mother,
There couldn't have been a better another.
I still pray in hope, again and again
You didn't suffer any physical pain.

As you loved and cared, like a mother should,
I cared for you, as I promised I would.
I hope that these words to heaven get through,
"Dearest Mother, I will always love you."

Mom
1920 - 2008

Each day you come and see me, I wonder who you are.
You seem so happy to sit beside me and give away your time.
As you tell me stories, I sit there in a dreamlike state of mind.
I don't know if I knew you, so many memories have passed me by.

You talk to me so much, but silence is all I can reply.
As you hold my hand, I see the tears swell up in your eyes.
You seem so happy to see me, yet still I make you cry.
You sob such soft and gentle tears, but I cannot reason why.

You talk of different places, but these four walls are all I see.
These walls I sit and look at are all the comfort that I need.
The walls provide safety; the life outdoors is not for me.
My life is slow and simple, the world outside confuses me.

Each day you're next to me, familiarity at my side.
You offer me love and kindness, but I have no emotions left to give.
Your face hides so much burden; I sense the end is near.
You watch me slowly drift away, like the last embers on the fire.

I know that nothing ever lasts,
and my memories, they're fading fast,
but I have my photographs,
and I know we used to laugh.
You come and sit with me each day,
and I hear most of what you say,
but sometimes I don't understand,
and I'm so glad you hold my hand.
I wish that I could let you in
to see what lies beneath my skin
and let you wander through my mind
and let you watch my dreams unwind.
I try to recognize your face,
but it has changed in many ways.
Are you the girl that I adore?
Why can't I see her anymore?
I wish that I could explain
how nothing ever feels the same.
Now I'm lost and all alone,
and I can't find my way back home.

Mama with her babies in her rocking chair, she sings
The soothing sound of lullabies,
Her voice so sweetly rings.
Singing in her rocking chair,
she holds her babies tight.
The soft voice of an angel
Keeps singing through the night.
As children crawl upon her lap
And play upon her knee,
She sings the silly, joyful tunes
They love so playfully.
Mama sang the hymns of blessings,
With love and grace so tenderly.
She sang "How Far is Heaven,"
And "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me."
When young years turn to golden
And memories go back in time,
She clenches now her dolly
And sings rhythm with a rhyme.
When words of songs have been forgotten,
She hugs her dolly tight.
She tries so hard to sing the words
But just can't sing it right.
She now sings la la la la la la la,
As she holds her dolly tight,

Locked in this place
I want to go home
Surrounded with people
But I am all alone
How did I get here?
What have I done?

Oh. Hello there stranger
What is your name?
Ah! I have a sister
Her name's the same
But I never see her these days
Such a shame.

Locked in this place
Losing my mind
Sentenced for life
I committed no crime
Brought nothing with me
But everything's mine.

Oh. Hello there stranger
What is your name?
Ah! I have a sister
Her name's the same
But I never see her these days
Such a shame.

Why are you angry?
Is it something I said?
I just asked a question
That popped in my head
But you're looking at me
Like you wished I was dead.

Oh. Hello there stranger
What is your name?
Ah! I have a sister
Her name's the same
But I never see her these days
Such a shame.

Who are these creatures
Patrolling my day
Are they prison wardens
With nothing to say
I just want a taxi
And to be on my way.

Oh, they brought your dinner
Now eat up your food
So I'll leave you to it
Don't want to be rude
You talk with your family
I don't wish to intrude.

Did you bring me some matches
Did you get me a pen
Do you have any paper
I have a good plan
Do you have a car?
Who is that man?

Get all these people
Out of my face
I didn't invite them
This is MY place
They're stealing my things
It's a disgrace.

Everything's mine
I bought it you see
Now let me out
Where is the key?
Or I'll bash out your brains
So don't mess with me.

Well, you can't tie me up
That's illegal restraint
So you turn now to drugs
To dumb down my complaint
Try to turn this old devil
Into a saint

So plied now with drugs
You say that you hope
This now will help me
So you ply me with dope
And try to subdue me
With chemical rope.

I know why you do it
It is best for your purse
It's cheaper this way
Than employing a nurse
But d'you know what you're doing?
You're MAKING ME
WORSE!!!!

Every morning
He helps her get up,
Get ready for a day
That she may not remember tomorrow.

Once a year,
I walk in the door,
Give her a hug
That she may not remember tomorrow.

She goes outside,
Picks berries on the farm,
Feels like a hard worker
That she may not remember tomorrow.

The neighbors come over,
Trish and Tilly.
Feels like Grandma
That she may not remember tomorrow.

She goes to Terry's
For a home cooked dinner,
Has laughs and entertainment
That she may not remember tomorrow.

Being against a harmful disease.
I thank the Lord for
All of the time that I have with her, knowing
She may not remember me tomorrow

There is stillness in my mind, molecules no longer attract each other.
I peer inside, the words no longer come to me.
A void instead has taken shape
An emptiness of forlorn dread has filled the space that once was me.

I gaze but do not see, a world of movement unmeaning to me now,
As if a fog had settled in and no wind to blow it clear,
I can't remember if I thought, of what and who and where and why,
I open my eyes to another day,
I open my eyes to another day,
I open my eyes to another day.