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 © DM Babbit | Year Posted 2015
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