It started with words. Losing words and names. A slight fog. A small stroke. Turned around. Time left the clock unintelligible Numbers indistinguishable Now just marks Meaning nothing. It was not right. It started with words. Ironic since you loved words. Losing words and names. A minor car accident Unopened envelopes And dirt accumulating on the cabinets. Boxes bills and clothes Stacked high, said the neighbor. A feeling of being off. You were so far away. How could we know? Really know? You sounded as chipper as always on the phone. And sent cards Signed Love, Lois. But the letters, Look, I said. Her signature has shrunk The letters are too small And go uphill It’s not right. And the words went. More words and names and numbers. Time totally gone. Directions disintegrated. Peripheral vision disappeared. You acted erratically Giving money away And were quick to anger. How could you not? You were living behind a curtain. How terrifying To not know what is happening to your mind. To not know where you are. In the end, to have only sounds and not enough words to say Help me, help me please, It is not right. It started with words. And ended with a howl. While we looked on helplessly Unable to comfort you, Holding your beautiful, weathered hand The only act of love Still left.
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Amen.
Well, Suzanna, this is the unbearable grief. Your poem manages to make poetry out of it, more's the irony, and so right on.