"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

[Willard Wells]

A very well done work on birth to death. The full cycle as you saw it and well stated.

[richieb]

Wow, you captured life's journey for many people. Using life's steps as a timeline was very creative. No guarantee's on our health or how our life will end. Your poem is sad but true. Richie.

[Ruth]

I sometimes feel it is the relatives and friends that hurt the most from such...my Nan has dementia and I see her regressing...life is such a fragile journey...reminds you to hold each moment sacred...

[Insight "MH"]

Sometimes I think about these stages, the rise and fall of the body's strength, then I remind myself to be always humble and thoughtful with others who are older than me or weaker, cause one day I will become weak of sickness or age. I really enjoyed reading this poem, thank you for sharing.

[Terry O'Leary]

The trials of life!
A fine poem!!