Thursday, July 29, 2010

what to do

while he is disappearing
we find ourselves
under the same roof
unpacking boxes
understanding
we have changed
the trajectory
of all our lives

while he is sitting
we push ourselves
to make him safe
and comfortable
without knowing
what he sees
or what he thinks
behind the blankness

while he is here
we will eat together
take turns staying
home with him
hear the same jokes
and wonder what to do
or so it seems
on this, the second day

Peace,
Milton

7 comments:

Martha said...

You are not doing this to earn stars in your crown, but you are getting them anyway.

Joy said...

My thoughts are with you during this time. I cannot imagine. I hope I never have to know. Thanks for sharing your journey so we may be enlightened.

Dawn Darwin Weaks said...

Can a parent forget his own children? Can he not recognize the child he raised? Yet even if he forgets, I will not forget you, says the Lord. Isaiah 49:15 paraphrased

Twindogs said...

What a beautiful poem! Our hearts, love and prayers are with you and family.

Deidra said...

Ah...I know this journey.
Your words bring light to the path. This beautiful poem.
Your heart. Blessings, all.

Anonymous said...

I have traveled down the Alzheimer's path.

It is a tortuously slow one. I bid you patience (much patience) and grace as you embark. The journey into the final hours will be long. Enjoy the early days as the latter days will be unknown.

Pace your self for this long journey. Do not hold on when you should say goodbye.

And, at the very end, peace appears like a rainbow. My lesson was to learn patience. You will know your lesson when the rainbow appears.

zorra said...

May God's grace be sufficient for all of you on this journey.