Mary Died

Mary Died

 

They took Mary to visit her sister

in the nursing home.
When it was time to leave,

they locked the doors,
Needless to say, she did not want to stay.
Mary fought them hard for so many days.
I saw her phone the police to ask for their help,

they were told she was unable,

to care for herself.
The day before, she signed her nephew,

her power of attorney.
She was indignant, she was angry,

then she cried to go home.
She said her green beans

were partly cooked in the canner.

Her tomatoes would rot in the bushel baskets.
Her jewelry lay on her dresser for the world to see.
She had a load of clothes still wet in the washer.
Mary at the nursing home became my own.
When she cried, I clenched my teeth.

I looked past the wounded eyes

I could not meet.
They gave her medication to help her sleep.
She slept three days in an unconscious moan.
She had to be sedated again and again.
Twenty eight days later, Mary went home.

Reviews

[Emily B]

caging people up against their will . . . so much kinder to let her finish those last days at home the best she could

I suppose it was easier on her relations, to have her shut up to be cared for . . . such a sad, sad story

[Ed Hart]

this didn't make the six o'clock news, but Phibby wrote a poem about it

[Ladysue]

oh wow this is heartbreaking, yet the ending is so full of hope. Very poignantly done...