A Journey To Nowhere

(more holes in thinking, the tragedy of dementia)

Auntie

.

your accusations fly sky high

grounded on false reality

they hurt feelings

.

a crossroad looms ahead

i appear to have fallen

through cracks in your memory

.

who am i apart from

someone vaguely familiar

where is your absent niece

.

do you think you are abandoned

she sits beside you

as she dines on verbal abuse

.

with a lashing of the physical

thrown in for added measure

unpalatable food

.

not quite knowing what to do

she hasn't yet mastered 

the new you

.

the fare on the spring menu

not to her taste

it reeks of spiteful stew

.

where are we going

we are both on a journey

to a dead end 

Reviews

[Neville]

the fact that anyone at all can create something such as this, so meaningful and poignant out of just words (the tools of our craft, so to speak) speaks volumes for poetry & also the individual that made such a remarkable job of crafting them into a thing of literary beauty and from their personal insight into life's huge stash of nasties that sadly lay ahead and waiting for so many of us and our loved ones .. is truly something special ...................... if I had one with me now, I would take my hat off to her .. Neville

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Neville. Sometimes stuff just turns up from nowhere. Needless to say the timing here was all wrong, but on a happy note, it is sorted. Auntie is happy and loving her niece again in her much confused state. Old age is cruel, but she is within easy reach now, about a mile away so I see her more often.

Chris

[Poet Pittinix]

The title of this poem drew my attention. I read a poem with the same title on another website. It was written by an African poet named, Aikins.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much. I appreciate you stopping by.

Chris

[Temperance]

Such a sad tale that many of us have encountered. Dementia takes many forms and hatefulness is one of them as you have shared in this poem. Your words are powerful in that they relay the feelings of both parties. Interesting ending. It is so true, there is no future with someone suffering from that disease. Very well done, Chris.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Temp for your thoughtful review. A difficult situation that many have to deal with. Not easy to prepare fot it.

Chris

[Temperance]

No it isn’t.

[Aura]

You chose your words carefully, entwining the truth with metaphors to really paint the reality of living with someone who has dementia. It is heartbreaking to watch them become someone almost unrecognizable , with a lost memory. I can't imagine how it must feel to be in a situation like this.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Aura for your review. A difficult situation to deal with that is for certain. Can be most upsetting.

Chris

[Aura]

You are welcome.

[duff]

Can relate directly. The title is truth.

"With a lashing of the physical"
I love that line

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you duff and know you are appreciated.

Chris

[KAREN]

I understand this poem. I've had three aunts die from dementia. It's hard to see someone you love go through this. Well written!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Karen. It is a devastating disease for both the family and sufferer.

Chris

[KAREN]

My pleasure!

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

That last stanza hits hard when I think about the wording because who can not relate to it really. We all have the same ending, sad to say. The players may change but the game remains the same, we all have to find our way through the nonsense. My great-grandmother had dementia, but I've meant many that didn't that lived the same kind of life, again, sad to say. I think this poem is good to read for anyone. tyfs

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts Cyprian. They are appreciated. Have a good day.

Chris

[Shelley Warner]

Another poignant poem. I pictured a young woman sitting with her aunt, who has dementia and has become mean. Maybe she has been negative before, maybe not. A hard thing to take.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Shelly fot leaving your thoughts. You are appreciated.

Chris

[Rick Puetter]

Yes. The older we get, the more we see of this. It has always been there, but we were blind to it. It is an unpleasant reality. But it is important to note that this is not about any failure or change on your part. It is all about the pregressive failure of a loved one to understand and deal with the world. And perhaps it is the inability to do anything about it that this the most unimpowering and saddening aspect of all of this. It is the need to accept that nothing can be done as cherished people slip away, and it's not even slipping away. It seems they are ripping themselves away, but their anger and inability to cope is all a part and parcle of this. My condolences. I understand this, and as I have experienced before with your poetry, you do an expert jobs of revealing your feeling. Kudos. And I have a poem along similar lines about an aunt that died of Alsheiners, a horrible way to go. It was hard at the end when we gathered and she asked my uncle, who are those people cooking in my kitchen? I don't like them there. They make me afraid. Here is a link: https://www.writerscafe.org/writing/rpuetter/1170134/

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Rick, good to hear from you again. Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful review. Yes sadly a sad situation for all who encounter dementia. It is a most cruel disease. Many thanks for your link to your own write about your aunt. I will take a read and leave a review tomorrow. Sending my best wishes to you.

Chris

[Rick Puetter]

Thanks. Looking forward to your review.

[Donna]

My Grandmother meant the world to me. When she got Dementia, she didn't know who I was. She looked at me like a stranger, it broke my hear! It's very sad to see/experience this!

[Chris Shaw]

So heartbreaking for you Donna. You know only too well. Thanks for stopping by.

Chris