The wasting of a mind (a mother known)
The years are ten
since your body died.
Fifteen since you fled in spirit.
That damn old sharpness and command you had
That keen sense of the ridiculous
Lost in the vexing of an unchosen labyrinth.
Our nervous laughter.
Our embarrassment for you.
Sidelong glances.
What to do?
You were looking around corners,
expecting the worst.
Each day, the maze grew more confounding.
Your shields were up,
and no one could get in.
We strangers let you lie
in a home that was not.
We came and fed you,
shared the load
until you were done.
Helpless. Helpless.
Just last night,
in my dream of blackened beams,
I watched, appalled,
as your mystic ghost rose in torment
from its wasted habit.
Embarked on the journey of the lost.
Categories
personal stories, poetry, relationships, spiritual, Uncategorized
Lee Dunn View All
Lee Dunn has been writing since the age of 18, but found that work got in the way for the ensuing 48 years. In his home town of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, he reveled in his independence at an early age, and spent as much time as he could exploring the city’s Arts scene. He was introduced to poetry and prose by the works of two literary giants, namely J.R.R. Tolkien and J.W. Lennon and thence fell in love with the written word. His work includes poetry, short fiction, and personal essays, and ranges in theme from the surreal to the horrific, nostalgic, and themes on the human condition. He has been published on Spillwords.com, The Dark Poets Club, Journal of Undiscovered Poets, Crepe & Penn Literary magazine, and the Shelburne Free Press.
Anyone who has ever gone through the tortures of grief will identify….well done!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have lost Aunts to dementia and alzheimers…. the cruelty is hard to describe…
LikeLiked by 1 person
As ever, the emotions are raw and real. I feel your pain.
LikeLike