Alzheimer's (A Sestina)

Anything anyone says, goes in one ear and then falls straight out of the other. It seems there’s nothing she can keep put inside that aging, greying head of hers. She still knows us in rare moments of clarity; all of us find it a frightening thing to watch. There is nothing we can do for her but watch. Liver spotted hands cupped behind an ear; a vain effort to give our words clarity. Confused eyes look from one to the other. We struggle to reach a world that is just hers, making sure our words are carefully put. The last thing we want, is to have to put her in a home, but we’re not always here to watch. How to tell her she must leave this home of hers? Write it down? Shout it out? Whisper in her ear? Upset and scared we look to one another to give the situation clarity. Showing her brochures, in attempts to clarify this situation into which we’re put. We have to take this path, we see no other. We cannot simply sit around and watch as everything we say falls on deaf ears. This decision must now be ours, not hers. The disease has taken all that once was hers; her dignity, reasoning and clarity. She tucks her silver hair behind her ears, then panics; she’s forgotten where she put the wedding gift from dad, her silver watch. Looking first at one wrist then the other. Forgotten it was traded for another, insisting that the gold one isn’t hers. She searches for the non-existent watch, then catches herself, a moment of clarity. Tears falling from our eyes, we know it’s time to put her where someone else can act as eyes and ears. In those ‘other’ times when god grants clarity, she knows we’re hers, but thoughts will not stay put. Almost as we watch, our words fall from her ears.My first ever attempt at this form, so I hope I have got it right!! (PLEASE say if not!) Written March 10th, 2002 © on Mar 10 2002 04:42 AM PST   0 • 1