Jan Allison | + Follow Poet |
Verse | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

I Sit Sobbing

I’m staring at the reflection in the mirror -
who is the lady with the grey hair?

Today a strange man came to visit me
I do not recognise him …
He says he is my son

I try hard to remember as we talk about the past
He shows me photographs of his childhood years
Memories come back to me; I sob bleeding tears
Dementia is robbing me, my recall is fading fast

That man has now gone
Saying he will visit soon 
Tears flow from my eyes
Trapped in my own little world
I sit sobbing silently

Kimo and Tanka checked with how many syllables 

Challenge  one write Contest Sponsored by Broken Wings
08~31~16

Copyright © Jan Allison | Year Posted 2016

Please Login to post a comment

1 2

Patricia Lawton Date: 9/29/2016 5:56:00 AM I nursed patients like this I even wrote a poem while on night duty but I don't think I will submit as I wouldn't want to upset anyone. Its a wonderfully true yet very sad situation as my daughter will find out as her husbands mum has just been diagnosed. My heart goes out to all family living with it. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/30/2016 2:59:00 PM It's heartbreaking for both the sufferer and the family - getting dementia is something I dread ever happening to me:-( hugs Jan xx

Andrew Battaglino Date: 9/28/2016 6:14:00 PM Jan this is sad but true. I know because we experience my mother-in-law's dementia when my wife and I visit. Your poem is right on the money. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/29/2016 2:21:00 AM Thanks Andrew - my mum is in a care home since my dad died - she has short term memory issues but there are those with Alzheimer's and its so sad to see:-( hugs Jan xx

White Wolf Date: 9/27/2016 5:06:00 PM I saw this a lot when I worked at an aged care centre, so sad... Breaks my heart. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/27/2016 6:19:00 PM I see it in the care home my mum is at - they have a dementia unit and I dread the thought of mum ever being is a position she has to go into it:-( hugs jan xx

Tahira Parveen Date: 9/20/2016 10:48:00 AM So sad , but true ... Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:48:00 AM Thanks Tahira:-) hugs Jan xx

Olusegun Arowolo Date: 9/10/2016 4:17:00 AM Very touching and sad...Nice and lovely write...congrats on your win,Jan... Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:48:00 AM Thanks Olusegun:-) hugs Jan xx

Sandra Haight Date: 9/9/2016 3:52:00 PM So sad, Jan...and this is the story that touches so many families. You have captured the painful emotions so well. Congratulations on your fine placement. Hugs, Sandra Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:48:00 AM Thanks Sandra:-) hugs jan xx

Constance La France Date: 9/9/2016 11:19:00 AM Jan, congratulations on your win in my contest, your poem touched my heart, just wonderful ` Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:47:00 AM I'm so sorry for the delay in replying we were away for a few days and I spent little time on soup:-) hugs Jan xx

Sara Chansarkar Date: 9/9/2016 10:17:00 AM Dementia kills the patient slow and it also kills the family:(Very beautiful Jan! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:47:00 AM So true Sara:-( hugs Jan xx

Paul Callus Date: 9/9/2016 9:43:00 AM You chose a heartbreaking topic for this contest, Jan. Dementia is what I fear most, not just for myself, but also for those around me. ~ Congratulations on yet another merited win. Hugs // paul Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:46:00 AM It's my fear too Paul:-( hugs jan xx

Laura Hay Date: 9/9/2016 9:33:00 AM So sad this, my Gran has dementia and i can really relate to this poem. Congrats too Jan! Warm regards, Laura. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:46:00 AM Its a heartbreaking illness Laura:-( hugs Jan xx

Anu Nayak Date: 9/9/2016 8:31:00 AM Dear Jan , hearty congrats on your placement! so sad for the people with dementia like this lady in the poem....nicely written, well-done:).....love, Anu:) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:46:00 AM Thanks so much Anulaxmi:-) hugs Jan xx

Beautiful Scars Date: 9/9/2016 7:47:00 AM Lovely Jan, this is so sad, yet it reminds me of one of my fave movies "the Notebook". terrifying for the woman and family....congrats on your placement! :)-luloo Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:45:00 AM Thanks LuLoo - I was away when the contest was judged have only just realsied I had comments to reply to:-) hugs Jan xx

Joseph May Date: 9/8/2016 9:28:00 PM Congrats on your win Jan...hugs Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:44:00 AM Thanks Jospeh:-) hugs Jan xx

Agnes Krampe Date: 9/8/2016 9:07:00 PM Coming back to say: congratulations, Jan. Agnes Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:44:00 AM Thanks so much Agnes:-) hugs Jan xx

Winged Warrior Date: 9/8/2016 8:12:00 PM Congrats!!! my friend Jan...well-deserved win...god bless...^WW^ Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:44:00 AM Thanks ^WW^:-) hugs Jan xx

Janis Medders Tobechi Date: 9/8/2016 5:56:00 PM This is great a fav for me. Congratulations. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/20/2016 11:43:00 AM Thanks so much Janis - I can't believe I missed replying to all the comments!:-) hugs jan xx

Alexis Y. Date: 9/1/2016 3:56:00 PM Hi Jan, This is so sad. You captured the feeling of someone suffering from dementia very well. Great job. I wish you the best of luck in the contest.A Big seven:-) Alexis Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/2/2016 12:52:00 PM Thanks so much Alexis:-) hugs Jan xx

Agnes Krampe Date: 9/1/2016 12:00:00 PM Dementia is so scary; I like how you wrote form the sufferer's perspective. The second part is heartbreaking: not to recognize your own son! Good luck on the contest. Agnes Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/1/2016 12:23:00 PM It is such a heartbreaking condition Agnes - I dread the thought of developing this illness:-(hugs Jan xx

Joanna Daniel Date: 9/1/2016 6:12:00 AM This is very sad, Jan:) Heartfelt:) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/1/2016 7:25:00 AM Thanks Jo:-) hugs Jan xx

Probir Gupta Date: 9/1/2016 6:07:00 AM Very heartfelt and profound ... all the best ... Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/1/2016 7:26:00 AM Thanks Probir:-) hugs Jan xx

Eve Roper Date: 8/31/2016 11:19:00 PM :'( very good good luck in the contest . Hugs Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 9/1/2016 7:26:00 AM Thanks so much Eve:-) hugs Jan xx

Carole Duet Date: 8/31/2016 5:35:00 PM Yes, dementia is a sad state...but then in some ways it can be a blessing. Someone I know has it and he doesn't remember the bad things, only the good Good poem...very heartfelt. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 8/31/2016 5:49:00 PM That's an interesting viewpoint Carole - yes I guess in that respect it is good thing:-) hugs Jan xx

John Hamilton Date: 8/31/2016 5:19:00 PM My father in law passed away 5 years ago and for about two years he didn't know who we were, now my mother in law is on the same path, so sad, very nice write Jan, you do these so well. I'm doing a recital for 600 people next week, hear you have one in November, hope yours goes well. Cheers! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 8/31/2016 5:22:00 PM Thanks John I am sorry this poem is so real for you. Yes I will be performing 2 poems on stage in November - audience if the charity night is sold out will be 800 people - no pressure at all lol - good luck with your performance - let me know how it goes:-) :-) hugs jan xx

Joseph May Date: 8/31/2016 4:53:00 PM So very sad the toll that dementia takes on our loved ones and on us too...A heartfelt write Jan... ..hugs Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 8/31/2016 4:54:00 PM Thanks Joseph it is a very sad situation for all involved:-( hugs Jan xx

Charmaine Chircop Date: 8/31/2016 1:01:00 PM My next door neighbour is only in her sixties...About a year ago dementia knocked on her door, and is taking her away from who she is to who she was very fast. When i see her i look deeply in her eyes trying to capture a glint of remembrance...For a moment I see a spark there..then it fades.to emptiness.I feel sad to see her this way because she used to be nurse with elderly..and now the support she gave others ..she needs it...I am touched by yr post dear Jan..because its real...Fave Login to Reply Charmaine Chircop Date: 8/31/2016 7:46:00 PM Indeed it is.. Jan Allison Date: 8/31/2016 1:18:00 PM Thanks Charma - a friend said to us recently he is worried about his wife's memory -my hubby had noticed recently she had lost her sparkle - its such a cruel illness:-( hugs Jan xx

1 2