The Tragedy of Dementia

The Tragedy of Dementia By Elton Camp What was Lora has faded away Slowly, inexorably, irreversibly Competence, intelligence, caring Lost in a morass of tangled neurons Unperceived by her in the early stages Though all-too-evident to her family “They say I can’t drive anymore I can, but they just won’t let me” Parents she wants to pay a visit Though dead for decades now Frustrating confusion interspersed With a day or so of relative clarity More and more, growing uncertainty “Now just who did you say you are?” Adults claiming to be her children It can’t be true, but they still insist She stares at one, uncomprehending “I have a daughter with that name” To her husband of sixty years duration “I don’t know you, we aren’t married” Finally the end, unmercifully slow Death enveloped Lora like a fog