Best Alzheimers Poems
She sits alone with her distant stare
He visits daily but she is unaware.
No future hopes to speak thereof
Yet still husband, wife, and deep true love.
Love Without Hope Contest
Sponsor Sara Kendrick
Im taking the train to alzheimers, cause it aint taking me, I might wait forever for a drug to
set me free.So remember family,when my mind is truly gone,To tell me tall stories to keep
me well informed. remember mum when you were the queen of sheba,and you had hair of
silk.and then i'll chuckle to myself and think you's have lost your mind.So tell me im
important and ask me for advice.and even when i put you wrong smile and say im
right.Cause now my mind is like a childs and i need some reassurance,and Alzheimers has
stole the best of me and i dont have much endurance.But just remember while you can the
good things in your life, cause once its stolen in the night its gone for good you see.
It began with her misplacing things…and progressed to not knowing who I was…
She would wander away from home…for that is what Alzheimers does.
Yet other times she knew me well, she knew where she was…and when…
She was intelligent and lucid…she was my Mom again.
I never knew when Alzheimers had control…or when Mom would be released…
for that’s the personality of this disease…that is the nature of this beast.
There were times when Mom could sense my worry…and tried to ease my fear
She’d smile…a reassuring smile…and say, “Don’t worry, dear…I’m here.
But Alzheimers is unrelenting…at first making small demands
willing to let Mom have her moments…while patiently waiting to take command.
I remember the first time she didn’t recognize me…I bowed my head to hide my tears
when all of a sudden she was holding my face…”Don’t worry.” she said…”I’m here.”
We had no choice but to acquiesce to her malady…
to take her high days with her lows
It was only after my visits were over…that I let my anger flow.
And when she was lost to me forever…when in her confusion I’d see her tears
I would take her face into my hands and whisper in her ear…
Don’t worry, Mom…I’d say…there’s nothing for you to fear…
Wherever you’ve gone to…Don’t worry,
Don’t worry Mom…
I’m here.
The colors she wore clashed in confusion.
One sock grey, one sock blue
as her mind wandered ... where?
She never knew her name
called out of the fog.
The blouse buttoned wrong
with sleeves too long
and she didn't belong ... anywhere.
When the fog settled in,
she stared out, turned around
full circle to a stop.
Very foggy now walking into a room
not knowing what to do there.
So, she sat in her coat and hat going ... nowhere.
Later from a hand come into view,
she is led to a closet to take things off.
Faces came and went, strangers all
even those who called out "Mom!".
She couldn't say who she was talking to
and that voice ... was that Her voice?
Who was Her?
Better not to speak at all,
let silence take her ... (everywhere).
Let the fog drape around her soul.
Perhaps tomorrow,
the curtains would close
and she would know
what was waiting in the wings.
There I was at work surrounded by a thousand stories of drama, love and surprise
when one of the greatest love stories I could imagine unfolded before my eyes:
They came into the bookstore…a couple old and grand
wearing smiles across their faces…walking hand in hand.
I noticed as they walked the store…their gait was deliberate and slow
and they continued holding each other’s hands…never letting go.
They came in to browse, get out of the heat…look for a story or two
Before they left they stopped to talk to me…as customers often do.
It was at this moment when we spoke that I quickly came to know
why he held her hand so tight…why he would not let her go.
As he and I talked about the store…(he mentioned it’s a beautiful place)
she held his hand, stared at me…and the smile never left her face.
When she did enter our conversation…gesturing with her other hand
she laughed and giggled and mumbled…but she was hard to understand.
I imagine it was Alzheimers…that was interfering with her style
but it hadn’t yet stolen her desire…or her ability to smile.
I conversed with her as best I could…not understanding most of what she said
which meant a lot of looking into her eyes, smiling and nodding my head.
Before they left…her husband shook my hand and thanked me joyously
“For giving her the same attention,” he said, “that you have given me.”
She waved as they were leaving…her other hand he never dropped
and as they left the store I heard him say…”We’re heading to the ice cream shop.”
She seemed to quiver with excitement…the excitement of a child
then gave one last glance in my direction, waved again…and smiled.
I wonder how much longer they have together…
before Alzheimers makes it’s final stand…
But I like to think whatever happens…
they’ll be forever holding hands…
A lways
L iving
Z ealously
H oping
E very
I mportant
M emory
E ffortlessly
R emains
S pecial
Dear Lord I know you're busy and I hate to bother you
With all the problems in the world you have so much to do
I remember when I was a child being taught about your love
How you died to set me free and left your throne above
Now my body's aging and my mind's starting to go
People say I'm senile and forget things I should know
My family's trying to get me to leave my home and friends
They say they know what's best for me and how this all will end
Lord would you please give them wisdom to discern
The leading of your spirit and patience as they learn
All the changes that will happen at this stage of life
Please let them work together and not end up in strife
As my mind continues to slowly slip away
There will be times I know I won't remember how to pray
No matter how my mind ends up let my spirit be alive
Give my family all the strength they'll need to survive
Grant them Lord your perfect peace and give them all sweet rest
Let them know I'm safe at last as you hold me in your breast - Amen
Raintears run down
the cabin window,
and the lights go dim
for departure.
It's twilight here
on the ground and the sun
has just set behind
the western mountains.
The plane taxies around in the rain
for its takeoff run.
In a few minutes we will be up there
in the pearlescent clouds
attempting to catch the sun
with the same success I had
catching memories the last two days.
On down the runway now,
a little hitch,
and we've left the ground,
good-bye, my mother, forever.
We fly over darkening roads,
lights just turning on,
that I had traveled earlier
in a groundling's stupor,
filled with the images of
a slow morning on the porch.
The air was cool and the sun
was warm on our faces as
we sat there,
you and I.
I knew it was the last time and
I think maybe sometimes
you knew it too.
We watched the world go by
and you tried to remember
from moment to moment
who I was.
So I made one last attempt
to grab some memories
out of the deep,
and place them
at your feet.
Shared moments, shared jokes,
shared times and places, some you fumbled,
but, for awhile you began to make connections,
and remembered and
I was ecstatic that
you were still there.
I held back my tears
so that you wouldn't see
how hard this was for me.
Yet, I could see the strain on your face
as you fought, as you always had,
to give me all your best.
I knew then, I had to let you go.
It was selfish of me
to hold you in this world,
that you would not remember
in an hour.
I sit here safe, flying into a storm.
And you down there,
head into the unknown.
My plane races into the light,
just ahead of the night.
Good-bye, my mother, forever.
A Long Journey
by Robert (Bob) Moore
For 15 years I watched my dad
forget the life which he once had
hour by hour, and day by day
the memories, just went away
A man of strength, and a hero too
forgetting things that he once knew
to fix a car. or carpentry
electric, plumbing, photography
The books he knew, the words to songs
people’s names, and where they belonged
who they were, and what they did
as down that slope, he slowly slid
Sundowners, that was a stage
he thought he was locked in a cage
he just wanted to get outside
the more mam stopped him, the more he tried
Mam did her best to keep him home
but now and then he’d start to roam
sometimes neighbours brought him back
or we’d search the streets, his steps to track
Time came for him to slip away
although we wished that he would stay
it was over, and we all knew
there was nothing more that we could do
And so we gathered to say goodbye
to hug each other, and to cry
we knew his final battle done
and I am proud to be his son.
watching one you love
fading into something less
tortures your spirit
Edward J Ebbs - July 12, 2016
this and that and thus and such
hearing, seeing, smell, taste, touch
which will old age steal? not much
just this and that and thus and such
will I know beloved ones...
lifelong sweetheart? daughter? sons?
thanking those with whom I've dined
not sure why they've been so kind
in this home but not sure why
who will hold me when I die?
i'm imprisoned by my fear
who will let me out of here?
i have seen it far too much
once sharp minds now losing touch
no more plumb line left to clutch
just this and that and thus and such
Dear Lord I know you're busy and I hate to bother you
With all the problems in the world you have so much to do
Yet I remember when I was a child being taught about your love
How you died to set me free and left your throne above
Now my body's aging and my mind's starting to go
People say I'm senile and forget things I should know
My family's trying to get me to leave my home and friends
They say they know what's best for me and how this disease will end
Lord would you please give them wisdom to discern
The leading of your spirit and patience as they learn
All the changes that will happen at this stage of life
Please let them work together and not end up in strife
As my mind continues to slowly slip away
There will be times I know I won't remember how to pray
No matter how my mind ends up let my spirit be alive
Give my family all the strength they'll need to survive
Grant them Lord your perfect peace and give them all sweet rest
Let them know I'm safe at last as you hold me in your breast Amen
written too late for the contest, but wanted to post it anyway....
I had one of the most wonderful mom's any human being could have...she lives with me now - with decreasing dementia.., I answer her constant repetitive questions,
listen sadly to all of her accusations, but always have a hug and smile for her. The progression of alzheimer's is very difficult to watch and deal with...and I hope one day they may find a cure for it....
What a lovely bouquet of flowers sitting on the dresser top,
The sweet scent of lavender- who sent them? I thought,
Should get up and feed that spoiled cat before I go,
Got dressed, grabbed the TV remote, and made a cup of jo-
Think I’ll get the paper first- should be laying by the door,
Have to read what’s new today- I picked it off the floor,
That cat is never here, always wandering and staying out,
Think I’ll make a cup of coffee, now what’s all this about?
Why is my TV on? I never watch it ‘til late at night,
Electricity must be shorting out – something’s just not right,
Going to call the landlord, she’ll get some nasty words from me,
“Hello …Sadie...I’m just fine - come over, I’d like some company”
Knock, knock – who’s pounding on the door so early? Why Sadie come on in,
I was just thinking about you - my dearest, closest friend,
Oh, thank you much, I see you put some flowers on my table,
You’re sorry about what…who got run over …god no, not Sable!
Sadie, my heart’s broken – I’m angry - I feel I’m going to die,
Now, now dear, please stop it, tell me, why is it you cry?
Wait until my little cat comes back – she’ll bring you lots of cheer,
Here’s some tissue for your eyes, I haven’t seen you for a year-
Let me make you a cup of tea, we’ll sit a while and chat,
Damn thieves! They’ve taken everything – hope you like your coffee black!
That TV is way too loud , it blurs my thoughts and head,
Did I tell you about my cat? Gone so long, I think - by someone else she’s fed-,
Hang on a minute, the phone’s ringing down in the hall,
Put the TV on if you want– you can watch Lucille Ball-
HEY, YOU THERE!!! How dare you come in without knocking first,
I don’t need anything from you – last time you took my purse –
Of course I know who you are, are you trying to make an ass out of me?
I didn’t come off the banana boat – darling, would you like a cup of tea?
Last week in paper I see story old nuns some die with Alzheimer in head, others still jolly old gals think good sharp things, making jokes Bishop's small dick, like that. Turns out ones who get Alzheimer cannot write good sentence structure when teenagers before they nuns. They write essays about "Why I want be nun," this way back 1917. Them that still darn smart, they write real clever sentences when they young, say like, "Be nun for God, help world," but them fated to Alzheimer, them write, "Be nun for devil," they not understand how it work.
I used worry I would get Alzheimer so would not drink Coca Cola if in cans, for fear aluminum get me and me become stupid when old. But seeing how I make good living from writing sentences, I no worry now. No need fear aluminum cans anymore. Me can also start using again aluminate under-arm deodorant, friends stop complaining. Oh, and I know good joke about Alzheimer. "Old-timer disease." Pretty good huh.
Also them old nuns give their bodies to science. That how the science know for sure the senile dead ones have Alzheimer and not generic stupid-sickness. What I not understand is how give body to science when they give body to nobody when they alive?
What if science decide use body to experiment in disgusting way? What if science men necrophiliacs? It okay, nuns sign paper say go ahead science, my body all yours! I used to carry driver license that say, "Go ahead you science guys," me think maybe someone get head run over by truck and need new brain, can have mine if I dead. But no more. Throw license away.
There one more thing about that nun story that bother me. Why they become nuns in first place? Story in paper not even say they was Catholics. You think they was?
Cavernous warehouse filled to the rafters
With all of my memories; forgotten laughter
Boxes unmarked, heavily taped, a dusty cluttered mess
Haphazard narrow walkways disappear into the dark abyss
Before I came to this wretched place…
Horrid, medicinal, cloying reek meant only to replace
The stench of slowing dying, tormented oblivious souls
With nothing left but ruined bodies growing old
Before I was connected to every nuance of life and time
Quick to answer, practiced whit, and wisdom so sublime
Then my faculties were stolen; no longer able to connect
With simple tasks and simpler thoughts; only distant regret
Yet helpless to light the fires of what I needed most
With, you’ll have to forgive me…all of these old ghosts
If only time is kind and my few lucid moments don’t betray
I have some business to attend to before I go away
Within this darkened warehouse I search with rheumy eyes
For the precious engraved golden tin; inside it holds my prize:
His well-worn wrinkled picture, for years it’s been misplaced
Finally I see the golden tin amidst the gloom of this space
As I reach to gently cradle his memory within my gnarled hands
Unkempt hairs stick to my face in tangled matted strands
I trace his lovely youthful face, his precious loving grin
Without him I have been so lost; a prisoner within
The present seems so oppressive
Without the will to live
My body quickly failing, but now I fear no more
For I have found a fragment of the girl I was before
And at the very end, fate has been so kind
To replace his memory within my heart and fragile broken mind
Now I will go to meet my beloved and leave this frail place
To gain his presence once again and behold his lovely face
All of this confusion and despair to ever leave behind
And I will meet him at the gate; his wonderful grin to match in kind.