People keep asking me how my grandfather is doing
But I’ve ran out of synonyms for the words ‘not good’
His sickness has spread from his head to his legs
And his always warm, strong hands
are now cold and trembling in mine
It’s like his muscles can’t get used to
the stillness they’ve been kept in
But his body is still not done resting.
People say my grandfather is ‘A shell of the person he used to be.”
But I think they’re wrong
A shell would imply he has something to come home to
A house, something to shield him from storms outside
But his eyes tell me he went wandering one day
And could not find his way back
My grandfather is a time capsule
That carries his beating heart
And has a lifetime of marks mapped out over his skin
Inside of him runs a museum of memories
Beautiful paintings and old videos
Sometimes he shows us a glimpse of those
My grandfather is a time traveller
And travels between the past and the current
Between lands of real and fantasy
And pretty soon he will be traveling through the stars
All the way to my grandmother
The one I believe he wandered after
And I will miss him all over again.
– ARM
But I’ve ran out of synonyms for the words ‘not good’
His sickness has spread from his head to his legs
And his always warm, strong hands
are now cold and trembling in mine
It’s like his muscles can’t get used to
the stillness they’ve been kept in
But his body is still not done resting.
People say my grandfather is ‘A shell of the person he used to be.”
But I think they’re wrong
A shell would imply he has something to come home to
A house, something to shield him from storms outside
But his eyes tell me he went wandering one day
And could not find his way back
My grandfather is a time capsule
That carries his beating heart
And has a lifetime of marks mapped out over his skin
Inside of him runs a museum of memories
Beautiful paintings and old videos
Sometimes he shows us a glimpse of those
My grandfather is a time traveller
And travels between the past and the current
Between lands of real and fantasy
And pretty soon he will be traveling through the stars
All the way to my grandmother
The one I believe he wandered after
And I will miss him all over again.
– ARM
Annies diary 
Dementia is so well captured in this piece. “But his eyes tell me he went wandering one day
And could not find his way back”, so well said. A kind and loving way to look at what’s happening to your grandfather. I went through all of this with my mom so I can relate. Thank you for this new way of looking at what mom went through. It brought tears to my eyes.
Pat
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This really moved me. Thank you for your kind words. I’m glad you found something you relate to. Dementia is a really difficult thing to deal with and I’m glad this poem could help you a little bit. Wishing you all the best and sending you all my love ❤
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Again, thank you very much!
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I can relate to your post. My father passed away a few months ago… he was 98 and had dementia.
Everytime I was asked how my father was doing I always replied good! His life amidst dementia was peaceful and colorful! Time traveling, remembering his favourite things to eat and listening to his idol Frank Sinatra!
I miss my father terribly but he is in a good place having the time of his life!
Bless you and your journey!!
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Thank you so much for sharing ❤ I'm so glad your dad was doing good during such a challenging time. Sounds like you made some precious memories and they'll always be part of you! Thank you for your kind words ❤
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You know, people sometimes say “I know how you feel” without even understanding the circumstances you’re dealing with. But, believe me, I do. When you have an opportunity please read this post https://rhemalogy.com/2021/02/21/fear-not/ I hope it will bless you in some kind of way. Thank you for sharing.
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I could’t find out how to reply to your beautiful post, so I decided to so here. I am so sorry for what you and your husband are going through. That sounds like an incredibly hard journey and I will not pretend to know how you must feel. Though I am glad and happy for you that you find strength in your religion. That’s a beautiful thing.
You have a beautiful way of writing ❤
Sending you and your husband love and light. I have deep respect for your strength.
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Thank you anne, but he passed away last year and I miss him so very much, but in my heart I know he is in a much better place. Thank you for your blessings. Blessings and Peace to you and yours.
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