Dementia

(an early poem written about my father’s condition)

If I had one wish now it would be that God would be kind to you, for I can see in your eyes that this is not how you want it to be.

Those eyes that once were bright, alert and sharp, but now are filled with sadness and despair. I hate God for doing this to you –I need someone to blame.

For you have always been kind and gentle and do not deserve this end. This end that all of us are frightened of and for good reason, because it is so sad and so unfair.

It makes your heart weep and chokes you up inside to know that your dad is there in body and not in mind anymore.

But that does not mean I love you any less. I love you as I have always done, since I was a little girl, waiting for you to come home.