John Read | + Follow Poet |
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Dementia

Who am I 
I often ask. 
I have no future 
I see no past. 

A long forgotten book 
resides upon the shelf. 
An unfinished story 
crying out for help. 

Family become strangers 
as the world bids goodbye. 
Memories start to fade 
as the past breathes a sigh.

Dementias unforgiving 
a cruel slow lingering death. 
feeling lost and all alone 
in life's dark wilderness.

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Andrea Dietrich Date: 1/14/2025 11:11:00 AM I often wonder what the person with dementia is actually thinking. I mean, what thoughts are going on in their mind?? Are they in another universe? ARe they thinking at all? I have a friend whose mother sees halluciantions and tells him there are clowns outside the window, stuff like that. In my opinion, no disease is as awful as this one because it steals not only your most valued asset of being a functioning human, but also it creates frustration for one's loved ones. Love your words for it. Login to Reply John Read Date: 1/15/2025 7:39:00 AM Hi Andrea it's a soul destroying illness, and seeing someone you love forget who you are is heartbreaking.

Jacqueline Elston Date: 1/9/2025 2:12:00 AM Beautifully written John. When l did my pre nursing course l did voluntary work on a ward for suffers, its was heartbreaking as they know what they have lost and the isolation suffers feel as they cant communicate that loss. Its a terrible disease and my heart goes out for suffers and their carers. Jx Login to Reply John Read Date: 1/9/2025 2:20:00 AM Hi Jacqueline it certainly is soul destroying illness. xx

Duke Beaufort Date: 11/29/2024 3:38:00 AM John, you put it all in a nutshell. Pretty sad for those with it and those of us caught up in caring for them. Since I am one of the care givers it's interesting to read this and think about what it is like for the relative on the other end as well as the other family members. Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/29/2024 8:23:00 AM Hi Duke, it's so sad for all concerned, being a carer I'm sure you know this.

Ink Empress Date: 11/29/2024 12:07:00 AM Dear john, youv written such a poignant take on dementia, it made me feel so much especially as i read “ A long forgotten book resides upon the shelf. An unfinished story crying out for help.“ it breaks my heart for those feeling this and experiencing dementia personally in any form. Iv seen some loved ones go through alzheimers and dementia too. And it wasnt easy and i often used to wonder if they remembered me as i spoke to them. Sigh! Sending you light always. This poem is a fave for me Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/29/2024 8:27:00 AM Thank you Ink, it's so sad to see someone you love not knowing who you are, it certainly tests one's faith.

Michael Tor Date: 11/25/2024 3:07:00 PM John you have captured dementia perfectly in this write of yours. Very impressive my friend. How dark must this be for those going through it? God bless you for reminding us.i wrote a poem Do You Remember me in your memories? About Parkinson decease. This reminded me of it... Thanks for sharing... Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/26/2024 7:41:00 AM Hi Michael, it is a soul destroying illness, I will check out your poem. Thanks for your visit and comment.

Beryl Edmonds Date: 11/25/2024 2:33:00 AM Brother John, my mother had dementia, it’s a terrible thing to live with, for the sufferer and those sharing the caring. I’m becoming forgetful too, it’s very worrying. Your poem says it well… Sis Bel Login to Reply Panagiota Romios Date: 11/25/2024 4:10:00 PM Beryl, hi. My Mom had numerous strokes that affected her mind. There are various forms of mental deneration as well and drugs. But anyway, warm hugs to you. Our Moms gave us life,,,remember?)) that and the good times we had with them.. hugs, Pangie xx John Read Date: 11/25/2024 7:45:00 AM Hi sister Beryl, my Nan had dementia, it's so sad to see,we all forget things at times hopefully it's not dementia.

Victor Buhagiar Date: 11/24/2024 8:50:00 AM I wrote a poem lately on the same lines as yours but not on dementia. It is a disease I dread. My wife had it for five years. Fortunately, she died quickly from heart disease. Now my sister has it., but since my accident last year, I am not allowed to drive and so cannot visit her. Great emotional poem. Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/24/2024 9:00:00 AM So sorry to hear that Victor, life can be so cruel, haven't you got anyone who can drive you there, I'm sure your sister would love to see you.

Jennifer Proxenos Date: 11/24/2024 8:23:00 AM How true your words ring. Your poems are all so touching about your beloved wife and how you miss her so very much. Time goes tick tock every day, every minute, hour and year slipping away. You will meet with her on one future day. blessings, Jennifer. Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/24/2024 8:39:00 AM Thank you Jennifer for your visit and heartwarming comment, God bless you. xx

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 11/24/2024 4:34:00 AM - A terrible illness, John ... everything becomes confusing... and a lot of worries for relatives ... sad :( - hugs Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/24/2024 4:51:00 AM Hi Anne, it's certainly heartbreaking seeing someone gradually fading away.

Sara Kendrick Date: 11/24/2024 4:34:00 AM It is sad to see when it happens to a family member and sometimes it defies all reasoning, but at least the person who has it doesn't really know what is going on. Thanks for sharing. Sara K Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/24/2024 4:58:00 AM Hi Sara, at first they realise somethings not right, it's only once it's taken hold,they don't know what is happening. xx Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 11/24/2024 4:39:00 AM - In some cases they understand that something is wrong, Sara ... but, don't understand what it is ... they are often restless (wandering) and very irritable ... change personality completely ... horrible to experience - hugs

Gershon Wolf Date: 11/23/2024 9:37:00 PM Resonant portrait of a cruel killer. For too many, the biggest nightmare of all. ~ gw Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/24/2024 3:27:00 AM So true Gershon it's a cruel way to go.

Panagiota Romios Date: 11/23/2024 5:31:00 PM John. Felling uncomnnected to the world happens to younger people, even in their teens! Our brains do shrink at differebt rates. We have people all over the world killing each other. Even tees, my suggestion is to use your PC and find out what denentis is. God never promised we wii live long. The list what can kill you is long.. even cancer kills people at age 16. We were born to die, I don’t mean that in the negative way but in a glorious way. ..you get to be with God! Pangie Login to Reply Panagiota Romios Date: 11/24/2024 1:07:00 PM Nope they are not coming back~ a body has a soul, or ifit did not, we would never be here in the first place..So though our physical bidies can only go so far, the soul lives on forever..there is a heaven and a hell. I know the world laughs that off. I do not! I am glad to leave the earth, i had a great life, but the way it now! Glad to leave!)) Pangie xx John Read Date: 11/24/2024 3:26:00 AM Hi Pangie, what ever illness we all must die in the end, hopefully there's a heaven, although all those who have died in the past have never come back to tell us.

Tom Cunningham Date: 11/23/2024 1:51:00 PM I think many of us have family members who've suffered from that terrible disease John. Slowly slipping away, you'd think mankind would spend more on finding cures than spending billions on weapons of mass destruction. Tom Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/23/2024 2:16:00 PM Hi Tom, I agree with you wholeheartedly, those who are in charge don't seem to see it has a priority. Have a lovely weekend.

Kim Rodrigues Date: 11/23/2024 12:15:00 PM Thinking of you, John. Prayers. Login to Reply John Read Date: 11/23/2024 1:32:00 PM Hi Kim, it was my Nan who suffered, I hope it's not hereditary.

Kim Rodrigues Date: 11/23/2024 12:14:00 PM All of our history, for most of us, will eventually disappear. Perhaps (and I believe) we will meet up again in heaven. I was part of a group that would go to Memory Care and read the bible to the people there. I’d think about them as the person who is locked within themselves and I will see them one day in their entirety. One lady had minor issues then changed before my eyes. Caught a glimpse of her. Login to Reply Panagiota Romios Date: 11/24/2024 1:18:00 PM Our minds do shrink as we age. Wedont notivs happening at forty. But I can tell how my thinking has slowed dow, so do our bodies. Its quite insane to expect a 90 year old to be as sharo as 20 year old,we can comfort the o,d and stop crying over the slow ones, enjoy our lves till the angels come for is. Stop all the moaning over the old, you did well to help the, not pity them..mazel Tov. Pangie John Read Date: 11/23/2024 12:22:00 PM Hi Kim, it's so sad to watch someone change before your eyes. Xx