Terry Ireland Poet Rhyme

Alzheimers

The diagnosis came
As a bit of a shock
I am starting on Alzheimer’
Slowly tickling clock.
Will I be watching in horror
From a near zombie state
As my body develops
Into a thing I would hate.

Unable to speak or
Express any thought,
Fly in spider’s in a web
Pulled relentlessly taut.
Will it be a prison.
Will there still be a me.
Will I be mind trapped
Struggling to get free.

Or will the real me
The spirit and soul
Have been wiped out
As I lost all control
So in one way
Avoiding the mental hell
As my body became
Just a physical shell

Feeding and moving
But the real me is gone
Just a querulous nuisance
As this condition grinds on.
Will there be a kindness not,
Being aware, in not knowing,
As the me is erased
By this disease’s growing.

Is this my future as
I try not to despair
Reduced to a hulk relying on
Loved ones providing my care.
So, pity them not me
As the process grinds on
For by that stage that me
May already be gone.

My oldest and dearest friend is now almost totally mentally consumed by this 
awful beast.  I am trying to understand what he is going through.

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Terry Flood November 1, 2022 at 7:53 AM Superb and compassionately done insight into this dreadful disease, Terry. I am yet to figure the criteria for POTD but this would get my nomination. Terry Terry Ireland November 2, 2022 at 4:46 AM Thanks Terry. I am so sad I have lost my friend - I don't even know if he is still alive.

Linda Alice Fowler November 1, 2022 at 6:31 AM A sad disease so hard to understand. Reminds me of the story of the man who walked with his wife everyday and was asked why he walked with her because she didn't even remember who he was. The man replied he walked with her because he remembered who SHE was. Nicely written Terry. Terry Ireland November 2, 2022 at 4:44 AM Every morning until quite recently we used to see a couple on their morning walk and it was obvious she was suffering for some form of dementia. We see him on his own now - at aged peer 70 he finally couldn't cope and had to put her into care. So very sad. Thanks Linda

Caren Krutsinger October 31, 2022 at 12:35 PM This is what it is like - I think your empathy is compellingly accurate. My father died of this disease. "Will it be a prison. Will there still be a me. Will I be mind trapped Struggling to get free." - WOW! Terry Ireland November 1, 2022 at 12:47 AM Thanks Caren.I last spoke to my friend 2 years ago on the phone and knew something was wrong. Since then he disappeared but i managed to trace him and heard his diagnosis. I have not been allowed to see him, which is rather sad. He was once such a b all of energy. I am sorry for your loss.