Barbara Peckham Poet Free verse

A Loss of Dignity

What do you feel 
If you’re six feet two
And you sit on the porch
While your wife mows the lawn?
What are your thoughts
When you can’t stand up
Without having someone to help?
How does it feel inside
When you try to walk 
But you can’t and find 
You need your wheelchair?
When you have to have help
To dress and undress,
To put on your coat and mittens?
How demeaning is it
To have someone change
Your underwear
And wash your private parts?
The caregiver’s life isn’t easy,
But she doesn’t suffer every day
With a loss of pride and dignity

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Gershon Wolf July 15, 2021 at 6:36 PM Whoa! Like a gut-punch. I'm not there yet, but I have to sit and watch my wife do work that I used to do. The smile on my outside doesn't stop the bleeding on the inside. Really resonates, Barbara. ~ Gershon Barbara Peckham July 16, 2021 at 7:55 AM The last year of my husband's life was hard on me but much harder on him, I'm sure. He was so active before the stroke, etc. He had not been able to walk much for several years. Also, I had to help him with so many things that I know must have been embarrassing for him and even humiliating.