My friend William Slowly the disease gains it deadly ground,
The minds bright light slowly dimming,
Often forgetting where he is at;
The year he inhabits long part of history. Thinking he is somewhere else.
Calling out for help to find his family,
Now long dead in their graves sleeping.
I want my mom, he says to me sadly,
Please give me a dollar so I can go home.
Over and over we have this discussion,
The same conclusion foreknown by all but him. The loss of short term memory at times a blessing,
At others a curse hard to bear,
Painful exchanges gone over again, in infinite prose extending.
Like a lost child his mother seeking,
A place safe, and comforting, in a world growing ever more dark and cold. All however is not dark since by love he is surrounded,
Those who care for him giving him comfort.
Telling him that he will be taken care of,
Even if he does not remember one hour from the next.
“We remember you”, he is told, and forgetting is not an option, Even if who we are is often lost by his progression,
He will never be forsaken in the dark realm he sometimes wanders,
Since he is held up by those whom he lives with and feels their love.
A man of child like beauty,
Saxophone player in his youth, He stills walks with rhythm and soul,
The way that musicians often do. He still smiles easily, Responds to kindness with the thankfulness of a child, A childlike spirit he always had,
Before he was struck by one of life’s dark arrows. He still loves chocolate, A kiss from God for those who understand, Such a delight for him, now as his life slowly winds down. Something new, a gift, and a love, he did not have in younger years. Now making up for lost time, like a child in a candy store. Yes he gets confused and lost at times, He reaches out for help and it is always there, His gift, simply allowing us, to show him the love, and respect, he richly deserves |