Guest Blog by Arden Nering

A Thousand Pieces

At first I didn’t notice that you’d already started to go
I thought it was just normal, your age starting to show
A second here, a moment there, a blurring of the view
Times when you just didn’t seem to be the one we knew
Worried whispers in the background, confusion and denial
A slow loss of confidence began to show behind your smile
And when we looked for answers to see what we might do,
We learned that death by a thousand pieces was what had come for you
This wasn’t my journey, it wasn’t the right time
When I was supposed to grieve, where was the line

A signal interrupted, a glitch in the machine
Cracks in your foundation so much deeper than they’d seemed
It atarted with your freedom, a clipping of your wings
And trying to convince you there were reasons for these things
No longer being trusted to do the things you always did
To suffer being supervised just like you were a kid
I tried to walk beside you so it wasn’t the right time
When I was supposed to grieve, where was the line

-for my Dad, Allan James Gillis Aug 20th, 1932 – Dec 25th, 2015

Note: these are the first two verses of nine detailing the loss,
stage by Azheimer’s stage. A Thousand Pieces. The approach unseen:
a common experience (or lack thereof?). Punctuation as I received
the piece.

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I Advocate

H. W. Bryce

I am advocate, I will stand with you,
Whatever it takes, that’s what I will do.

I will not judge you, no matter the stands,
Your case will be safe in my capable hands.

When you are weak, I will prop you up,
When you’re forlorn I will fill your cup.

I will find some way to solve your case,
I will make beaurocracy cut to the chase.

I will work without cease on your behalf,
I will ease your burden, I’ll be your staff.

I am advocate, I will partner with you,
Together we’ll fight to prove things true.

Whatever you need to help you to heal,
My word is my bond, my handshake my deal.

— —

CREDIT: Photo by H. W. Bryce