AN IMAGINARY LIFE

Aging, illness

AN IMAGINARY LIFE

(notions of an aging friend)

 

Neurons float along with

Waves of desolation

A ship’s captain

Caught in a storm of magnitude

Scattered thoughts like gray clouds

Nerve cells shrivel

Like loose pebbles at sea’s edge

Colorless clumps

Beg for acquiescence

Wane to perform

 

A lamentable omen

Of brain pandemonium

A realm of disarray

Scarcity of reason

A mystical orbit

of the imaginary

where others struggle to penetrate

a dilemma to all who discern

a defeat to all who love

 

 

 

Author's Note

Thoughts on a dear friend of mine

Reviews

[Miss Sharon]

Wonderfully written. I must agree with Carlos...( I can't imagine looking into the eyes of a loved one and seeing them empty of memories of who I was to them.) I can and did experience this with my Mom before she passed and it was and is MORE than heartbreaking. ~Sharon

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Sharon for your thoughtful review, this was a pretty depressing poem, but i had to write it as my old friend is now suffering.
Best
B.

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

Wonderful work Betty. Metaphoric images truly capture the disoriented aspects of dementia and erosion of the mind. I can't imagine looking into the eyes of a loved one and seeing them empty of memories of who I was to them. It truly would be heart-rending.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thank you Carlos for an exceptional review!
Best B.

[alanwgraham]

Well done Betty. You've given us a wonderful poetic portrait of this awful affliction. Your phrases such as realm of disarray and scarcity of reason describe perfectly this cruel disease.
Take care,
Alan

[Betty Hermelee]

Alan.. you're fabulous for writing such a great review
I thanks you immensely!
Best,B

[jacob erin-cilberto]

the metaphor here is brilliantly used as I see dementia hitting this captain, and he is at sea with his thoughts...drowning in what he can't remember.
My dad was this captain...and it hurt so much to see him losing his ship.
j.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks J. A great review, always appreciated!
Best
B.

[John the Baptist]

Very well put. I worked in a chronic disease hospital for 12 years and saw many cases of dementia. It was called "chronic brain syndrome " in those days, but I suspect it was what is now called Alzheimers. "Brain pandemonium" is an apt description, because many of the patients were living in alternate realities and alternate time periods. It was indeed a struggle for others to penetrate, which was very hard on caring relatives. I am continually taking precautions to keep myself from entering such a twilight zone.

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks so much John for an understanding review….being a professional…..appreciated very muchread moreThanks so much John for an understanding review….being a professional…..appreciated very much
Best B.

[emmajoy]

Your entire poem shows amazing empathy and also, writing skill, Betty.. phrases so gently laid. Your second stanza brought tears.. and no shame in that. You have created that much more and poetically, what a friend once said to me of her mother, 'Em, i so wish I could have my mum back.. .. '

'.. .. brain pandemonium - A realm of disarray - Scarcity of reason - A mystical orbit.. .. '

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks Emma for a fine review, with much empathy, this is an old friend who is suffering( in my eyes)….it’s very sad…
Best B.

[barleygirl]

I just wrote an acrostic poem becuz I wanted to use the word "pandemonium" . . . I can't believe how similar our poems are (I won't be posting this one now), about the brain going ga-zongo with misdirected inputs or distorted signals. Here we are, writing about completely different concepts, but it comes down to the brain waves, where the similarities lie! (((HUGS)))

[Betty Hermelee]

Thanks for your thoughtful review…a dear friend suffering from dementia, who knows what going on in his mind? but some pandemonium for sure; looking forward to reading your poem;
Hugs
B.

[barleygirl]

I tried to volunteer at an assisted-living facility & I only made it one day. I could not sit & listen to someone ask the same question 50 times. That takes a special kind of compassion that I'm missing. On the other hand, I volunteered at animal shelters for years & never got tired of cleaning up after them! *wink! wink!*

[Betty Hermelee]

I agree with you…the repetition, the blank stare, in their own world; sometimes they pop out for a minute or two.
Thanks Margie
Hugs
B.

[Chris Shaw]

I thought of those in various stages of dementia. How frightening and confusing it all must seem when parts of your brain aren't functioning. When words go, you can't remember names, places, and what you did yesterday, let alone two weeks ago. It reminds me of the frustration that my mum suffers. It must feel isolating and lonely. I think it is good to put ourselves in the shoes of others as they face life changing situations. We all need to understand better and be compassionate. Thought provoking work Betty.

Chris

[Betty Hermelee]

Yes very sad when it happens to a good friend or family member, it’s so life changing and painful to watch….your review is excellent, on the spot!
Always appreciated Chris.
Yours
B.

[Chris Shaw]

You are welcome Betty.