"Life's Choices"

Thoughts from visiting a nursing home.

        "Life's Choices"

 

She lay...for she had just begun.

Learned to crawl...for it was fun.

Tried walking, fell, and bruised her knees;

But soon trod...where ever she did please.

 

She walked until...she learned to run.

The  world on fast time, so grab and lunge.

She ran for years...did as she pleased;

Not knowing in a short time, running would cease.

 

She ran...until she could only walk;

Walked...losing the ability to stand or talk.

Crawled about...upon her hands and knees.

In the end just lay...as if to please.

 

She regressed almost...back to the womb;

Then for years, in bed and entombed.

She has forgotten...all of life before.

Old age came...and slammed life's door.

 

All who loved her...silently grieved.

She no longer could do as she pleased.

For her mind , went back to yesterday;

From adult to child, then...in the way.

 

She lays and drools...she smiles a lot;

Not knowing the people...or the world she forgot.

      [P&C}     Valentine

 

Author's Note

"Life's Choices"



She lay...for she had just begun.

Learned to crawl...for it was fun.

Tried walking, fell, and bruised her knees;

But soon trod...where ever she did please.



She walked until...she learned to run.

The world on fast time, so grab and lunge.

She ran for years...did as she pleased;

Not knowing in a short time, running would cease.



She ran...until she could only walk;

Walked...losing the ability to stand or talk.

Crawled about...upon her hands and knees.

In the end just lay...as if to please.



She regressed almost...back to the womb;

Then for years, in bed and entombed.

She has forgotten...all of life before.

Old age came...and slammed life's door.



All who loved her...silently grieved.

She no longer could do as she pleased.

For her mind , went back to yesterday;

From adult to child, then...in the way.



She lays and drools...she smiles a lot;

Not knowing the people...or the world she forgot.

Reviews

[Inanna]

So sad, but really good...tbh, it made me think of my grandmother before she passed away..

[Celie Rose]

Enjoyed your poem.
It is well written and expressed.
Very touching write.
"She regressed almost...back to the womb;
Then for years, in bed and entombed.
She has forgotten...all of life before.
Old age came...and slammed life's door."
This reminds me that we will not be
young forever. It is enivitabe that some day
we all will be confronted and ensnared by old age.
It is part of the life cycle. Let us keep the good memories
of them fresh in our minds.
Thank you for sharing this heartfelt reminder.

[zaisham9393]

All who loved her...silently grieved.
She no longer could do as she pleased.
For her mind , went back to yesterday;
From adult to child, then...in the way.

these lines remind me of someone .
Thank You so much for sharing this amazing piece with me :)!!

[Perkele.7885]

Kathie, it is a sad refrain but, in oh so many cases, it is oh so true. The too busy adults of today let their parents lie 'forgotten' in some nursing home because they have become in the way of a 'breezy' lifestyle and will only become significant again for a period of time when they pass on.

[ANTO]

entombed in bed . so very accurate and sad Kathie. There is much wisdom and excellent rhyming in this one.
Lucky are those who reach the end with their minds intact - lucky and few.

[SmittyJas]

I'm at my wits end on this one.

[andrew mitchell]

There's no glamour in dying, no dignity either even growing old.Life has a beautiful beginning but a terrible ending!

[Coyote Poetry]

Hard to watch our family fall apart.
"She lays and drools...she smiles a lot;
Not knowing the people...or the world she forgot."
Dear friend, all of us will get old and I hope I'm not forgotten. Thank you for sharing the powerful poetry.
Coyote

[Einstein Noodle]

deeply touches me ..the tragedy ... even comedy of our lives should we make it to old age that takes us ..my mother had Alzheimer's and i was privileged to care for her at home until her final year .. the blessed thing for her was that point she didn't know anything was wrong ... but she remained her incredibly sweet self throughout her life .. for some it isn't like that ... i really appreciate your poem on the subject ... everyone is affected when a loved one has such an experience
E.

[R Smith]

an entire life story so very well written Kathie, great work :)