Life Changes Unexpectedly

I sat and watched quietly
   the shuffle of her feet,
   the forceful lean upon the walker
and I wondered –   how did it come to this?

Just yesterday she knew my name,
   last week she appeared to be herself
   and spoke clearly plans for the holidays
and I concurred –   we’d travel to be with family.

Then in the night, the darkness came
   it surrounded her in triumph,
   unawares she called out to me
and there it was  - the strangest feeling of not knowing.

She’s not that old, barely forty-eight
  you know it’s the new thirty-one
  when all the world lay at your feet
looking forward to retirement -  never meant  to come.

How many years lead to this
  while we were planning futures and travels,
  working hard and saving up
for  years to share -  then reality set in we were already there.


A view of Alzheimers from the outside.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2015

Poem

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Promise Avatar
November 20, 2015 at 3:01 PM
Summary of the unexpected! This sudden change is currently quite true for some. It is hard to VIEW someone from the outside as they slowly deteriorate. Nice description. Hope you make it in the contest! RP.
Babbit Avatar
November 20, 2015 at 3:23 PM
Thanks so much. It's not for the contest, already submitted the Mirro of Memories. But grateful you took the time to read this one. DMB
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