Holding Patterns

Written about the inspirational Dr Jennifer Bute who I had the pleasure of having a lecture from today. http://gloriousopportunity.org/

Holding Patterns

“Don’t you remember me?

We had tea together last week Jen”

“No dear you have it wrong,

we have never met,

I don’t know you.”

Damn these hallucinations,

wild birds in my eyes,

the smell of burning toast

fills my nostrils,

but I will defeat them with logic.

I will grasp the patterns in life’s

painting and hold fast to their mannerisms.

But my family just cannot cope

with me today

for I am looking for my babies.

“What do you mean they are all grown up,

left home? Don’t be so silly”

“Don’t you mean they are being cared for?”

That was a bad day.

Today is a good day.

I remember who I am,

I recall having tea with Helen,

I remember that amyloid plaques

cause Alzheimer’s,

after all I was a GP.

So I am not lost

I know where I am going,

some of the time;

you know…

you can’t have rainbows without rain.

 

16/05/13

Reviews

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

you can't have rainbows without rain - such a great line, and the perfect ending.

I truly enjoyed this one, it had a definite feel and flow to it that was well thought out and intricately woven. I love your imagery and your wording/phrasing. Always a pleasure to read you.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks GF I borrowed it from Dr Bute

[Keith LaFountaine]

Powerful words indeed John. You hit a homerun with this piece. Your language flows brilliantly to your final line which is the final punch to the gut. Beautiful imagery and a poignant topic. Excellent work!

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you Keith for such a lovely review.

[Lily Mae]

I love this as a whole yet that last line went straight through my heart. Excellent write John..xo

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much Lily

[redflutterby]

My best friends mother died from Alzheimer's. It is the heartbreaking disease for both the victim and the family. I've taken care of patients with it and dementia. Unbearably sad!! Thank you for sharing this poem. It touched me so deeply.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Jennifer Bute is an inspiration and the words I have woven are all her words and phrases.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks AMS. Please visit her website. Are you in the caring profession?

[redflutterby]

Yes Im a home health companion and I've also done hospice. Typically I care for patients in the last few years of life who have declining health but are still moderately mobile. There's not enough of us out here doing it. Its hard work and many can't take the emotional toll ;-).

[Emerald Seas]

Alzheimer's is such a difficult disease for the individual and loved ones. We've prolonged life, but do we live? One of many questions I ask myself as I see through older and older eyes. Such a profound topic, written about with intelligence and respect.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks QSS. Dr Bute is inspirational, take a look at her web site.

[David Lewis Paget]

Yes, this is good John, and very pertinent in today's world. Everyone's greatest fear, to lose the plot so to speak. Kudo's.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thank you so much David. Hope you are well.

[quinfinn]

rainbows without rain are possible...under waterfalls. it is all a matter of how you see things , i guess. but, you have, once again, presented w/c with a profound and stellar write. well done, John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Many thanks. If I may say so you sound a little horse tonight lol!

[quinfinn]

yeh, we do what we have to in order to escape baseless persecution.