ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

Irene's poem reminded me of my friend who is gradually getting worse with dementia.

I've posted this before, but I thought I would do it again, not to compete or compare with Irene. Irene reminded me.


DEMENTIA

I recognise that friendly face;
a window to a lively mind
that once I knew. We often laughed
and talked about the things that bind;
our mutual experience
of art and music, family,
and down the years of comradeship.
Who could have known that stealthily
the plunderer was plundering.
A shadow steals across your face
as in the eve, the sun goes down,
dimming the spirit's secret place.

good poem and from the heart

Oh Neville so true isn't it! You have captured it - nice poem. My husband and I often discuss dementia and he worries because there is more evidence of it in his family. My attitude is don't worry because if it's you there's no need to worry you won't know; but in saying that it is a horrid disease and each year we live we get a little closer to it directly or indirectly.
Thanks for sharing.

Dot

Yes ... very good Neville. I like the way you constructed the first five or six lines having them run threadlessly from one to another. Lots of jokes made about dementia, like meeting someone new every day, but not funny for the sufferer and family. Tragic really. You captured it well.
Wazza

Thanks Maureen and Dot. It's a terrible scourge. I heard that, that old outrageous lady Jeanne Little has dementia and can no longer recognise her husband.
Thanks Warren. I made the line endings like that to conform with the metre.