Aunt Mayriette

Epic Verse A dear old lady, could be feisty but not manic. We grew up knowing that she was different. I had never heard the word Dementia before, But much later learnt that it had to do with the aging process. Told Fairy Tales with good animation To children in her extended family. Sang Nursery Rhymes in a high-pitched opera voice, As four kids sat at the edge of her bed. We knew about Jack and the Bean Stalk, Red Riding Hood, The Big Bad Wolf and Many more before we could even read; All because of Aunt Mayriette! But as we grew up, and she got older, Aunt May May began to be different. From childish observations, we became More aware of strange things that she did. She became more and more forgetful, She would tear paper into chips and keep them. She picked out stuffing from everywhere- Pillows, and so on, and kept those too. When she would burst out laughing, My grandmother would say: "Laugh at them. Laugh at them"! No adult ridiculed her, and children Could not make reports about her to anyone. It was for grown ups. She was not a "topic of conversation" In or out of the home and to no one. Neither did we prolong conversations With keen observers who visited the home! My Monoku poem described family as needing Love, protection, respect and representation! Honesty, loyalty, respect for gray hairs We're given to Aunt Mayriette. All this we gave to Our grand aunt, at a time When aging gracefully was not a thing well Expressed or widely advertised.