One way to slow down or even reverse the possibility is to do cross-word puzzles, exercising the mind and enjoying it, besides clean living and stress avoidance. I have as yet to hear whether blogging feverishly can help, after all we exercise our minds too!... Argh.....
An Affliction
Withering away of ability
Glasses precariously balanced
On the bridge
Treading carefully
Feeble
Rugged landscape to fathom
On their own
Innocence in slow movements
Cane in hand
Bent
Memory had taken flight
Repeated questions asked
Visitors taken aback
None really cared
Lost
Dependents confused
Not exposed to such encounters
Questioned the behavior
Refused to understand
Frustrations
The debilitating effects
Shared by a few, no escaping
Second childhood dubbed by the Bard
Afflicting the aged
Dreaded
Alzheimer a bane in the Golden Years slowly stealing away all human dignity of those unfortunates who suffer without friends
Submitted to OpenLinkNight - Week12
Submitted to OpenLinkNight - Week12
Powerful poem that brings home a horrible disease. I think blogging IS a help - you have to find words and ways to communicate and pull from various sources. I have read that the more you use your brain, the greater more it continues to forge and reinforce memory paths. Let's hope!
ReplyDeletemmm...i feel you hank..this scares me honestly...have seen it happen to others and i really dont want to start losing my mind...i want to use my for years to come...
ReplyDeleteI already lost my mind so to speak, but would never want to go over this peek. Seen it to a few and never want to join that crew. Scary as Brian said, when all leaves ones head.
ReplyDeleteGreat work. And, I agree that it's a frightening topic.
ReplyDeleteAlzheimer's is such a sad think to live with, as you so poetically expressed here. My heart goes out to those who have to live with it.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad. We begin our lives as babies and sadly most of us end up that way at the end of our lives too but, early onset of this or dementia has to be so frustrating not just for the person affected but by everyone in their family and friends circle.
ReplyDeleteDeep, and thought provoking, sensitive write from you.
I dread talking about the dreadful but your poem is beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is great!
ReplyDeleteThank for drawing awareness to such a subject through such words.
ReplyDeleteI think that's everyone's fear as they age-I certainly can't imagine anything I dread more except maybe something really slow and excruciatingly painful. In some ways its harder on the caregivers and family who remember what once was there than those who have forgotten.
ReplyDeletei have seen this happen..so sad - losing someone with him/her still around...
ReplyDeleteI was with you until I got to the clean living bit.
ReplyDelete"Second childhood", *sigh*.
ReplyDeleteSad but true.
It's a meaty subject and one that we poets and would-be poets should be tackling, so well done. A really excellent response to a modern social/personal trauma.
ReplyDeleteHello.
ReplyDeleteHaving worked in a mental hospital, I've seen firsthand the effects Alzheimer's can have not only on the sufferer but also on the family & friends who are helpless to do anything.
Powerful writing.
Thanks for sharing & for the visit too.
The Last Kiss
When you've watched this happen to someone you love, it really hits you how terrible this disease is-- a death before death, so to speak, losing the person you knew to the mists of forgetting. Thank you for this lovely but painful piece.
ReplyDeletei know you knew you know how hard it is for a caregiver like me. I usually take time to understand the history of the cases I am handling. and it frustrates me a lot when they already forgot how wonderful their life is. I never thought I will have passion for this noble job. It helped see beauty beyond sagging skin, wrinkles and white hair. this illness scares me. I hope the Lord will bless me and spare me... but who am I to question HIS will...
ReplyDeletenice one Pare!
JJRod'z
scary indeed. I used to work in nursing homes and those who could, feverishly worked their word puzzles just to keep their mind active.
ReplyDeleteSad....and scary. I have seen it and it's heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteVery important topic and I think very appropriate Hank, for poets to tackle. Bravo!
ReplyDeleteI had a Grandma and in her last few years had this was terrible could not even remember who we were it was so sad
ReplyDeletehttp://gatelesspassage.com/2011/10/04/memories/
Yes, important indeed.. thoughtful..;)
ReplyDeletepowerful words, a story well put.
ReplyDeleteWonderful words Hank. enjoyed the post very much.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Great job on this painful issue!
ReplyDeleteI, for one, hope that writing limericks helps. :)
Madeleine Begun Kane