Sunday, March 11, 2018

SOLSC #11 How to describe aging?




I am participating in the
March 2018 Slice of Life Story Challenge (SOLSC).
All participants are writing about one moment, one part of their day, every day for thirty-one days.
A big thank you to Two Writing Teachers for providing this unique opportunity
for teacher-writers to share and reflect.


-->

A visit to see my elderly parents last weekend has led to much reflection and this sad poem -






Being 88

Together,
forgetting.

Dad
Silent, distant, foggy
Sitting still, in yesterday's stained T-shirt, slippers, always the same chair, 
Staring at the TV, remote in hand,
The music channel playing, but the TV on mute
Every few minutes, he clicks on the sound,
Then, a minute or so later, he clicks the sound off.
Sitting still, in yesterday's stained T-shirt, slippers, always the same chair,
Silent, removed, foggy.

Mom
Unclear, unsure, confused,
Walking about, in her flannel PJs, with tussled, unbrushed hair
Shuffles about the house, searching,
Not knowing what she is looking for, where to go,
Picks up, puts down, the newspapers, the mail, the magazines,
Glances out the window, stops at the door, pauses at Dad’s chair,
Walking about, in her flannel PJs, with tussled, unbrushed hair
Unclear, unsure, confused.

Forgetting,
together.

4 comments:

  1. Breathtaking. Sad. Together, forgetting. Forgetting, together. So powerful.

    I hope finding the words was some comfort. I know you hold a lot of the memories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Yes, it is strange to be the one holding the memories...to see them slipping away, so obviously, from my parents.

      Delete
  2. You perfectly captured the melancholy of this phase of life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Yes, this is the word - melancholy.

      Delete