Visiting Hours

The hands circle the clock as I watch the minutes pass into soundless history. After a time or so his eyes speak and vocal cords try once again to master that foreign language spoken by both the aged and the young when thoughts cannot find the words. My hands cradle his face as I kiss the salty brow of his altered memory. While teardrops freely flow our eyes meet and two soul mates sing an old refrain together in a language understood by both musicians and poets when rhythm strikes the right chords. June 26, 2019 contest: Poetry Anthology, Music Theme Poetry Contest by Geraldine Taylor to honor the work being done in using music to spark the memory of patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. written originally for an online newsletter, Music Therapy Matters, Spring 2008, Angie Elkins, editor.