ANN
For June, Alzheimer’s Month in the USA 2022
She Cries
H. W. Bryce
I show her books of faded photographs,
memories from all our former paths,
of times when she and I were young
and life was always joyous “Ships Ahoy!”
and times among our kids, when they were full of joy.
I sing the songs that we have always sung,
And she recalls her former playful ways…
and she cries for all her yesterdays.
She cries for now she has so few tomorrows left
and no longer can she serve; bereft
she laments this stage of age
for she has much more that she can give,
but her memory’s become a sieve,
although some scenes are just a stage
and some todays are but replays…
she cries for all her yesterdays.
At times there’s nothing else to do but rage
against this wretched prison cage
and try to say what’s in her mind.
But still she knows the joys of how to live,
it’s in her altruistic need to give,
a testament of how one can be kind
in the face of hardships in a maze…
and so she cries for all her yesterdays.
Old photos, familiar melodies,
a kiss, a tender touch, all remind her of so much;
her face then crinkles up as if she prays…
and she weeps for all her yesterdays…
— —
From Chasing a Butterfly by H. W. Bryce
Image: Family photo
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ANN
