Pieces of a Man

"Fragments and the crumbs of life, all the little pieces" ---John Ruskin, 1853 Pieces of a man who used to be whole and chock full of life. He had a personality that shined like the rays of a summer afternoon sun! He had a silver tongue, to boot! He was a man of gripping eloquence. A gifted raconteur who captivated the neighborhood children with a cavalcade of stories. He brought joy and laughter to so many. Unfortunately, a cruel fate has befallen him! Pieces of a man who used to be whole; now cold and distant An unrecognizable ghost of his old self He has turned inward; retreated into a shell. The gleaming smile that once adorned his face, now faint; few and far between. Eyes that once sparkled like Esperanza diamonds, empty and lifeless. Who is this stranger? What has happened to this sunshine of a man? What became of his magnetic charm? His eloquence? What has robbed him of his beautiful mind? Unforgiving, the ravages of Alzheimer's disease Pieces of a man, crumbs of a tragic life... All The Little Pieces Poetry Contest (Winner: 1st Place) Sponsored by Constance La France Date written: 08/30/2020