by Dena Straughn
Member since:
August 12, 2007

What Alzheimer's Wrought (Mother's Fears)

August 31, 2007 08:12 PM EDT (Updated: September 04, 2007 12:29 AM EDT)
views: 78 | comments: 44

And so it begins . . .

The end:

Seeking a vision,

A future,

To find only obscurity;

Looking back,

Wonderning what really was;

Childhood memories now even evade,

Only suffering, a dwindling away,

A dependence on him;

An imprisoning of him;

Resenting anyone who

Robs him away.

Accusations, unrealistic

Trembling in pain;

Praying, no longer

For anyone else,

But only to endure;

Not that I do not believe,

I only have to let go

And Trust.

Losing myself;

I am disappearing;

Notice me;

Hear my cry;

Feel my pain;

Understand my fear;

Remember my love;

Let me go;

I cocoon within;

I have to let go

That I may fly.

 

 

 

 

I would like to ask you a favor. I have entered my first novel in the First Chapters Romance Contest and would appreciate your consideration.   Only votes of ten are counted in the final tally.  If you read it and like it, I would appreciate your 10 rating.   Thank you for taking a peek.   

This is the link for "Dancing With My Dream":

 http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977084290
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Comments: 44

Susan V. Aug 31, 2007, 8:19pm EDT
Beautifuully done.
Larry H. Aug 31, 2007, 8:20pm EDT
Moving, scarey thoughts, hope it doesn't happen to me or my wife..
Birdee F. Aug 31, 2007, 8:26pm EDT
I fear my mother may either get Alzheimer's or dementia! She forgets so much & it is sad :o(
Victoria H. Aug 31, 2007, 8:52pm EDT
My husband's mother had Alzheimer's. It was so sad to watch her mind dwindle away until she didn't even know who he was.
Kimberly Ripley Aug 31, 2007, 9:03pm EDT
It's such a cruel disease. My father-in-law had it and it was actually more painful for my mother-in-law to endure than it was for him to suffer.
cindy a. Aug 31, 2007, 9:06pm EDT
That's horrible, the disease.
Jerri H. Aug 31, 2007, 9:16pm EDT
Wow....that would be horrible!
Barb M Aug 31, 2007, 9:30pm EDT
It mad me cry
Terry M. Aug 31, 2007, 9:32pm EDT
very heart touching
Corina Carrasco Aug 31, 2007, 10:01pm EDT
Wonderfully written. A horrible state that so far, we can't seem to do much about. This is the one that scares me most...the one fear that scares me most that is.
Jimmie (Hey! Let's Gather!) Harris Aug 31, 2007, 10:17pm EDT
I understand this all too well... My late father had Aldzheimer's for 6 years.
Brenda (square peg in a round hole) H. Aug 31, 2007, 10:30pm EDT
Beautiful touching poem.
Bundy P Aug 31, 2007, 10:37pm EDT
Scary to think about!
Marilyn M. Aug 31, 2007, 10:53pm EDT
Yeah. My dad had Alzheimer's. When I was a kid, he was so strong, but Alzheimer's made him afraid of so many things. My mom, though, just forgets everything and everyone. I'm really not sure which is worse.
Margaret O. Aug 31, 2007, 11:05pm EDT
Brought tears to my eyes. Very profound and touching.Great write Dena.

Blessings. Thank you for commenting on my poem.
Margaret.o
lynn a. Aug 31, 2007, 11:24pm EDT
Good poem. I thought you brought out the horror in the disease.
Heather C. Aug 31, 2007, 11:36pm EDT
My mother had Alzheimers and was unaware she had the disease. She told me she felt bad for Ronald Reagan when they announced his having it on tv. When I tried to remind her of things in her life, she asked me how I knew and I told her she told me. She was an extremely intelligent woman who got a college degree when many woman didn't. That part was hard, but you know she spent most of her life bitter and disappointed with me and that all disappeared. She was a sweetheart and appreciated all I did for her. She told me she loved me and it meant the world to me. I had a wonderful time with her and although the disease robbed her, It gave me something I would not have had...a mother who loved me as I was.
Dena Straughn Aug 31, 2007, 11:54pm EDT
Heather, it was kind of opposite for me. My mom and I had been the best of friends, but in the end, she relied heavily on my dad, and resented his attention anywhere else. I never doubt her love for me now, but there were times, in the freshness of the hurt, that I felt unwanted. She was an awesome mom. I only wish my kids remembered her like I do.
Jo C. Sep 1, 2007, 1:03am EDT
I have a parent with this, someone who is on meds. Sometimes I have to look hard to see the ghost of the mother I knew,other times she is wholly there. I try not to dread the future but to hold onto the present. Thank you for sharing.
Sara L. Sep 1, 2007, 1:13am EDT
My grandmother has the beginnings of the disease and I am scared for what will happen later on. This poem makes me want to spend all of my free time with her before the worst sets in. Thanks for sharing
Shawn "left this place" W Sep 1, 2007, 1:23am EDT
Dena, you touch a tender place in the emotions with this. It's very well done.
flit . Sep 1, 2007, 1:25am EDT
Excellent poem.

Alzheimer's is such a complicated disease.... and truly horrible... though, as Kimberly said, I think that...beyond a certain stage, anyway ... it is much worse for the family than for the sufferer.


Which of your articles do you consider to be your very best? Inquiring minds want to know!
Lela M. Sep 1, 2007, 3:30am EDT
Touching poem.
Debbie G. Sep 1, 2007, 4:28pm EDT
Profoundly moving.
I was also deeply touched by many of the comments.
Marge H. Sep 1, 2007, 5:47pm EDT
Like many of the others here who have commented I can really relate to this. My father in law spent his last years in a nursing home recognizing no one who came to visit him.
Henry R. Sep 1, 2007, 7:42pm EDT
I loved her so dearly. I was not imprisoned but instead impowered and yet helpless. I could not hold her here.
Dena Straughn Sep 1, 2007, 7:44pm EDT
You made me cry Pops. She empowered all of us.
Dena Straughn Sep 1, 2007, 7:46pm EDT
Thanks to all of you who had made such touching comments. This was probably the hardest thing I have written, because it tears into my soul so deeply. Your kindness is healing balm.
Alison H. Sep 1, 2007, 9:43pm EDT
This is a beautiful poem and speaks to me, as my mom has dementia and it's probably Alzheimer's. So far she has kept her sweet nature.
Mark Lange Sep 2, 2007, 2:53am EDT
Nicely Done!~
Carol Lloyd Sep 2, 2007, 4:45pm EDT
thanks for the post
Eucliffe L. Sep 3, 2007, 2:28am EDT
thus the second childhood is the converse of the first/ in one the recognition and link strengthens the bonds in a crawling to running peg increase;in the other the links are shattering and bond weakening into oblivion as brain recognises person without grasping relationship... you are a person, physically close to me but not my daughter......
Father!!!!!!!!!!you are becoming a foetus inside of ME!!!!!! you have scored
Terry Collett Sep 3, 2007, 3:13pm EDT
A deeply moving poem.
Elsie Duggan Sep 4, 2007, 12:05am EDT
Dena, I have a brother in the very last stages of this disease, and I am surprised he has lived these past few weeks, awaiting a call anytime for he has stopped eating, etc.,,and he is only 76 and he was such an intelligent man, and he doesn't remember me, or his kids or anyone, saddest disease on earth for those of us who have to watch it, perhaps the person suffering it is not so aware of how bad it is, I don't know , I think they retreat to childhood, perhaps end up as babies before they pass. It is hard to know, but seems like that, I am sorry for your mother, and for you, Bless you Dena
Sheila Deeth Sep 4, 2007, 10:29pm EDT
Very touching poem. It must be a scary place.
Missy Cline Sep 5, 2007, 5:51pm EDT
wonderfully done!
james (coyote soul). gray Sep 6, 2007, 3:53am EDT
my grandfather was a hard old bastard when i met him the first time, before he died it seems the alzheimers had just made him mean "and" crazy. it finally broke him though. what a terrible way to go, i don"t care who you are, that kind of death........
elizabeth e. Sep 14, 2007, 10:23pm EDT
It is much worst for the family....often I wonder Where is that Mom...that independent woman who had an opinion on everything?
Dena Straughn Sep 14, 2007, 10:24pm EDT
So true Elizabeth
Michelle C. Apr 4, 2008, 9:14pm EDT
Very touching poem

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