A Bad Morning

...Those eyes          once bright and deep blue
looking back at me          dull          faded          grey.
I think to myself, I know you

as I stare at the image reflected in the mirror.
He is not the man I remember.
Beads of water coalesce on my skin and slowly roll down my chest.
I hear water running and look to my left,
seeing the spray against the curtain.
Oh, my shower I think and step into the tub.
The water is cold I turn the knob but it doesn't respond.
A sudden sense of deja-vu envelops me.
I finish my shower quickly and step out to shave.
Cold showers and shaves do not mix, this will hurt.
I look at my self in the mirror and touch my chin.
It is smooth.          
Funny, I could have sworn I needed a shave.
I brush my teeth and glance up again.
My reflection gives me pause.

Those eyes          once bright and  deep blue
looking back at me          dull          faded          grey.
As the water beads on my skin, I hear the distant sound of water running...


11/12/15
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Sietesantos Avatar
November 29, 2015 at 10:37 PM
Excellent piece, James! Congratulations and a 7 on your wonderful win! By personalizing this piece, you made it that much more powerful - what a deep impact you created! The imagery is unforgettable! Pandita
Inman Avatar
November 30, 2015 at 8:40 AM
Thanks for the wonderful comment Pandita, and thank you for the visit.
A  Avatar
November 28, 2015 at 2:48 PM
James, Congratulations on your well-deserved win in Tammy's contest. <3 ForEver SKAT
Inman Avatar
November 30, 2015 at 8:38 AM
Thank you SKAT
Viswan Bhatia Avatar
November 27, 2015 at 4:12 AM
Wow..what a wonderful take of the contest..loved this poem so much..congrats on the win james.god bless :)
Inman Avatar
November 27, 2015 at 6:49 AM
Thank you for the great comment.
Reams Avatar
November 26, 2015 at 11:18 PM
Congrats on your win James! Thank you for entering into my contest.
Inman Avatar
November 27, 2015 at 6:52 AM
Thank you Tammy, for taking the time to host a very moving contest. I've read some very beautiful entries.
Lindley Avatar
November 22, 2015 at 6:56 PM
You captured it well my friend. And we feel like fools for forgetting things so damn often! My uncle had it and it took 14 years to end his life at age 77. We all shall pass through that door one day. Myself, I wanted to see the doorknob and know that I was entering the light. Great entry!A7
Inman Avatar
November 24, 2015 at 10:33 AM
Thanks Robert, sorry for your uncle. I've watched my mom slowly going through old age dementia for years and on bad days have wondered if it was just selfishness to want her to keep going on, but then on good days feeling unforgivable guilt for thinking what I did on the bad days.
Sergi Avatar
November 19, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Hi James: The metaphoric bathroom. Where we pause to reflect on the present and the past but won't recall the future. You really captured the dreaded Alzheimer's . Great Write!
Inman Avatar
November 19, 2015 at 9:13 PM
Thanks for the great comment Ralph.
Van Breda Avatar
November 17, 2015 at 10:03 AM
Hiya James. You have captured the essence of the illness perfectly. Great write ~~X~~
Inman Avatar
November 19, 2015 at 9:15 PM
Thanks Kim., for your very nice comment.
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
November 16, 2015 at 7:38 PM
James, love how you repeated your first two lines.... a suggestion from me though to have somewhat a better effect, try to separate the first three lines from the others.... a sudden pause for me will intensify the feeling and the imagery you rose following the succeeding lines describing your third line.. =`) (I`m sorry if my suggestion offended you) but great portrayal of the theme!~Olive Eloisa =`)
Guillermo - Fraser Avatar
November 18, 2015 at 1:53 AM
=`) thanks much James.. =`) you are welcome... =`) I'm very humbled...
Inman Avatar
November 16, 2015 at 8:47 PM
Olive, don't ever worry about offending me, your comments are ALWAYS welcome and appreciated. Thank you for the suggestion and I wish I had thought about it when I wrote it. Thank you.
Kayode Avatar
November 16, 2015 at 8:42 AM
I love it,kudos James...hugs
Dunn Avatar
November 13, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Dear James First off thank you for the comments on my poetry, I'm very flattered by your remarks, glad you enjoyed them so much! Now for your poem it's a powerful poem on self reflections of growing older it is not easy, but you've expressed this topic very outstanding job here my friend, it makes the reader stop and ponder the questions concerning aging. Again bravo cheri
Inman Avatar
November 13, 2015 at 1:19 PM
Thank you for the wonderful comment, Cheri
Dietrich Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 4:04 PM
now THAT is a very bad morning, I'd say!! By putting that last part, you really captured the essence of this dread disease. This is one I hope to get to. An excellent writing topic, don't you think? well done.
Inman Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 7:00 PM
Thanks Andrea, very loosely based on what I've seen in my Mom. At first I wasn't going to enter but then inspiration hit.
Godwin Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 3:53 PM
Very dramatic - sad subject, great write ... CayCay
Inman Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 7:02 PM
Very sad CayCay, thanks for so many visits today.
Babbit Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 12:00 PM
The good mornings still come, though few and far between. Bless you for saying what too many of us have seen, see still with this disease. DMB
Inman Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 12:06 PM
Thank you for your sweet comment, DMB.
La France Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 11:39 AM
James, absolutely wonderful writing, I felt the confusion in each well selected word, amazing 7
Inman Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 12:07 PM
Thank you BW. I always look so forward to your visits. You make me smile.
Allison Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 8:06 AM
Oh James this is heartbreaking - I dread the thought of altzheimers happening to members of my family and me:-( hugs jan xx
Allison Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 8:24 AM
mum is the exactly the same James we have good days and bad days but compared to some she has very few issues:-)hugs Jan xx
Inman Avatar
November 12, 2015 at 8:15 AM
Yeah, my mother is 86 and has Age Related Dementia, not exactly Alzheimer's but similar, Her short term memory is very poor so she mostly lives in the past. She has her good days and bad days.
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