Forgetting

Alzheimer's Disease (a type of dementia) is something a lot of elderly people have to deal with, and it affects their friends and family. Here's a poem I wrote. I've never personally experienced anyone with a bad case of Alzheimer's, but I know someone who has. It's a tough thing to go through, especially when you know the person well.

Memories escape you.

Words puzzle you.

Faces seem to fade.

You try to speak – words are empty.

You try to remember – nothing comes.

You try to sleep – darkness haunts you.

What’s in a name?

Everything, then.

But nothing now.

What’s in the darkness?

Your future.

When people come and go, you try.

Really try.

But you don’t recognize a single one.

Even the one who said she came yesterday.

Yesterday.


Yesterday is gone. Today is going. Tomorrow is your only hope.