Poem about dementia

[Tucker08087]

She sits silently and looks out of her window
Slowly rocking back and forth
To a song from long ago
She gives a smile of remembrance
Flashbacks to days of independence
We shake our heads because we know
The words have disappeared from her so…

She sits with visitors from the past
Wistful memories that didn’t last
Cries because it all sounds the same
And though I’m here with her
Fear for her, cheer for her
Make long lost visions clear for her
She looks at me but can’t recall my name

Don’t tell me this was God’s plan
This was the destiny of man
Don’t tell me this was how it’s s’possed to be
Take your church and holy book
Take a good hard honest look
Then tell me this is some philosophy
Burn it straight into the ground
With no chance to turn around
Then tell me this is how you hope to be
When you reach the point where people turn their backs
Tell me that when everything turns black
Tell me that’s all you’ll want to see
Tell me you’re a liar

She rocks all day watching humming birds
At night she cries about the news she heard
weather that blew away some homes
The sky is blue with puffy clouds
She prays to God it’s over now
But hears of kids gunned down right to their bones

She takes a pill to numb the pain
Fears the thunder and the rain
Clings to me but doesn’t know my name
And so we laugh at 80s shows
5th time now but she doesn’t know
Every day is new in her mind
And though I try to fight the truth
We can’t return now to our youth
The daughter now the mother redefined
And slowly, always lonely, I stumble
Lost in time

Don’t tell me this was God’s plan
This was the destiny of man
Don’t tell my this was how it’s s’possed to be
Take your church and holy book
Take a good hard honest look
Then tell me this is some philosophy
Burn it straight into the ground
With no chance to turn around
Then tell me this is how you hope to be
When you reach the point where people turn their backs
Tell me that when everything turns black
Tell me that’s all you’ll want to see
Tell me you’re a liar

Watch the daily disintegration
Drowning with anticipation
Knowing that from here it just gets worse
Smile as you fein acceptance
Absent mind, you fake attendance
It’s not a blessing but a demon’s curse
You pray hard that it wont get worse
Practicing your lines and verse
Praying that your thoughts are never known
Now you’re on your own
As you hold your frozen smile
in this zone

She wakes up to the chirping birds
The same that every day she’s heard
But can’t believe it’s something that she’s known
I smile though I want to die
Choke down the tears I’d like to cry
But she’s a child now-I’m the one who’s grown
We’ll fight it on our own

She rocks back and forth and hums a tune
From way before my time
And I cry…