I visit the senior home-
there is a cage in the basement
with parakeets that greet
and potted plants in the hallway.
The walls are pink and cheery
and the floors are clean and shiny
The air smells like the pool
and the hospital – Chlorine and Dettol
I take the lift upstairs to where the rooms are
the television is blaring
a few seniors are on the couch staring
I tiptoe across the room attempting invisibility
To the fourth door on the right
I gently slide the door
Somewhere in between the white sheets
and the blue blanket is a face that’s mine
I loom like Gulliver
the eyes are shut, the skin loose, crumpled
I am flooded by guilt, I stand helpless
at the feet –
that once led and let me follow
then guided and let me walk beside
and later stood one step behind me lest I fall
They lie on the bed withering, as I stand tall
And I can do nothing
Nothing at all.
Copyright@smithavishwanathsblog.com. All Rights Reserved.
The cage of parakeets says it all! I love the analogy Smitha… realism at its best!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Thank you! I’m reading the poem again after your comment. Thank you Balroop ji🙏 for picking up the analogy and for your appreciation. Thats so huge. XXX
LikeLiked by 1 person
Superb poetic lines so well composed of a place where mostly you will find elderly people. Once they too were young and their feet and body moved just like young ones but today they are at the mercy of others. Beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kamal thank you, thank you. Coming from one who not only writes beautiful poetry but shares so much wisdom everyday and packs it with so much love, I am thrilled. 🙏
LikeLike
You are always welcome dear Smitha. You must read my latest post on being positive in life and let me know how you liked it. Happy Sunday 🔆🔆🔆🔆
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kamal I read your post. Its so inspiring. I shared it with my family. Thank you so much for letting me know about it.❤
LikeLike
You are welcome Smitha and I am so glad you did so with your children.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The greatest lesson I learned from my father’s dementia was that Alzheimers does not kill love. What you can do in this situation is you can still love. You must overcome your horror and hopeless feeling and love with your voice, your touch and whatever small acts of comfort you can manage. You cannot bring back what they were, but you can enter into their current reality and love them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Jo for your words of support and advice that comes from the experience of being exactly where I am today. I will do that – ‘be there’ as you say. 🙏
LikeLike
Its the hardest thing we face…and having to do that, as well as the last four days i spent with my mother as she was dying were my final rites of passage into adulthood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sorry to hear of your loss Jo. May your parents soul rest in peace🙏
Losing a parent is huge. I lost my mom 14 years ago. I changed…kind of grew up…so I know what you mean. Dad’s doing better now though I know at his age things will only be on the decline. Thank you for sharing your personal experience here. Sending you a hug across the distance.
LikeLike
Being there is doing something.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Carol for your kind words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Athira🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome Smithaa
LikeLiked by 1 person