Does She Hear

..never easy, but harder when a parent or sibling...

The blank stare

and cavernous gaze

leaves me stark

and disenchanted.

What lies beneath

those orbs of haze?

Questions left unanswered.

I wonder aloud...

Does she hear?

Does she care?

 

Lost in the abyss

of endless days

unable...unwilling

to deal with the dark.

I talk to my sister

who cannot respond;

while

cell phones ring

and radios sing

and still

nothing makes sense.

 

We sit and wait

and ponder reasons.

Perplexed by answers

left untold.

It’s all behind

that endless gaze…

although

 all I could ask was,

Does she hear?

Does she care?

Is she there?

 

 

Author's Note

August 4, 2009
A Very Sad Time for me...
My sister, Sandy, passed away 5 days later.

Reviews

[Mark]

I've read the reviews and there seem to be an abundance of theories: Deafness? Alzheimer's? Ambivalence? I'm guessing stroke, if what appears to have been a close relationship changed so suddenly that you have not as yet come to grips with it. My sincerest condolences, friend. This is a level of loss that I have not yet experienced. You have documented it with courage and tenderness.

[?]

Allen,
This is so sad and heartbreaking. You have made the reader feel the sadness, and the love at the same time. This is such an emotional piece. I am so sorry.
So heartfelt, you made me tear a little, and made me think of my grandpa. He had Alzheimers and in the end he didnt recognize any of us. That hurt so bad as we were so close. Thanks for sharing this with me. Very heartfelt piece.

[Katie]

This is a very heart breaking poem. You do a great job of expressing this time in your life. I am very sorry for your loss. It feels to me like looking through a window at the situation, you can see a piece of the story perfectly clearly, and yet you are still left with questions. It draws the reader in, and they become invested in such a short time. Excellent work

[Rene Velez]

are we talking Alzheimer's here? I for one thought of a hearing problem from the title, it is troubling to see a family member struggle in day to day life, they are lucky to have family that is aware and who cares.

[Tasha]

This is heartbreaking, you really captured this sad time in your life. Great piece. :)
♥ Ta'Shandra

[Becky C Strukamp]

An absolutely beautiful, tender, endearing poem. It speaks so much of love for another. Beautiful Poem!

[SoulCrusader (Yas)]

Very heartbreaking, emotional done with class and deep love. Great piece :)

[Muse]

My heart breaks to read this. Is it her choice to not respond, or is there something left unsaid? You most be hurt to trouble yourself with posting a picture, she has inspired a very sad poem. I have a younger brother that probably thinks the same of me at times. Living far away from family is hard, and not good on a relationship. We get busy and carried away with work, and we can forget about what really matters.
((hug))

[Lily Mae]

I truly know that they do hear, care and that they are there. Your love and dedication to her is beautiful and I'm grateful that you shared that part of you..xx

[dutch2lips]

I am a strong believer that she can hear and certainly cares.