Daily Prompt – JusJoJan the 13th, 2023

Hi LindaGHill our host for JusJoJan has our latest prompt ready, she said: “Welcome to the daily prompt! Today is your thirteenth prompt for Just Jot it January 2023, and it’s brought to you by Sadje. Thank you, Sadje! Please be sure to visit Sadje’s blog to read her post and say hello. And follow her while you’re there, if you’re not already.

Our prompt for JusJoJan January 13th 2023, is “reversal.” Use the word “reversal” any way you’d like. Enjoy!If you’d like to see what Linda has on our prompt list, you can find it Here.

Reversal, to go back on yourself, your word, your direct, your options. Then there is role reversal that’s what I have chosen to look at today.

It happened between myself and the rest of my family and our Mum.

© willowdot21

After she had three strokes she was shut inside a shell. It was like visiting a child.

© willowdot21

Also one of my sisters who was a senior nurse who taught many students became became helpless for the last year of her life and was in intensive care, became the patient and not the nurse.

© willowdot21

Another sister’s husband had dementia and until he became too difficult to care for looked afer.

Reversal

I fed and bathed you
I taught you to read and your numbers too
I took you out in pram and pushchair
When you needed me I was always there
I saw you grow and graduate
Marveled at your jobs and knowledge
Watched you being parentd too
You amazed me with each phase new.
Suddenly it was clear
I was lost not quite here
You washed and fed me
Found me help
My turn to ride the pushchair
You were all kind and you all were there.
Fate had reversed the roles
But the reversal, though harsh made us whole.

NaBloPoMo : Dementia , Alzheimer’s Cruel Game.

image from here

They are not in there they have gone.
Don’t search for the beautiful light that once shone,
They are not themselves, their soul has fled
Gone to us, to all purposes dead.
How cruel, how mean, how so unkind
To leave a feeble body and take a beautiful mind.
There are no words that can truly describe
The pain and fear of those trapped inside.
They can not reason they know no rhyme
They are gone and we are left behind.
Recognition in the eyes is sadly mockery.
This is no longer them, they are not who they used to be.
Screams of anger, voices harsh with fists of hate
You try so hard, you have so much on your plate.
There is no more that you can do.
They may be gone, still you try to be true.

He’s Out There ln The Garden.

Today is my brother in law’s Birthday. He probably doesn’t know it because he has Alzheimer’s/ Dementia.

My sister looked after him at home for as long as she could but he is now in a home, his condition got too difficult for her to cope with.

I have written quite a few poems on his and others sharing this plight. In his honour and all carers and sufferers I have taken two of my poems and reworked them into one.

Happy Birthday John. © willowdot21

*********

He is out in the garden with the secateurs again
The flowers are looking nervous and hoping it will rain.

The airing cupboard is wearing a smile
He’s is busy elsewhere so it has peace for a while.

We need to eat, it must be time for dinner.
We have just eaten, have a biscuit, that’s always a winner.

How cruel, how mean, how so unkind
To leave a feeble body and take a beautiful mind.

There are no words that can truly describe
The pain and fear of those trapped, dead, yet still alive.

You can not reason, they know no rhyme
They are gone from us left behind.

The tiny flashes of a knowing eye is just a mockery
Your loved one is no longer who they used to be.

Screams of anger, voices harsh with fists of hate
You try so hard, you have so much on your plate.

There is no more that you can in all honesty do
They may be gone. Can you hold your patience and to their love be true.

He is out in the garden with the secateurs again
The flowers are looking nervous and hoping it will rain.

See me.

Don’t

Ignore

Me because

I am old. I

was once bright and bold.

I had a full life once

I was loved and desired too

Spending my time much like you do

I am not stupid, I am not slow

In this old shell there’s a person you know.

So do not dismiss me right out of hand.

I fought for your future in this land.

Your life may not be as it is

Don’t ignore me, don’t dismiss

Respect is all I ask

Is helping me such

An awful task

Kindness is

All I

Ask

Lost in Dementia

How

Hard to

See a loved

One slip away

Unable to catch that

Lost beautiful fading

Mind. Each day another spark

Dies. Recognition replaced by

Fear and confusion, unknowing eyes

The spark is gone and there is no one home.

Compassion Acrostic

Thinking of all those in need of compassion, at this time thinking of my brother in law lost in the grip of demantia and my sister coping but struggling.

I wrote this back in January 2015.

Compassion Acrostic.

Compassion

Comfort me in my hour of need

Open your eyes and ears to me, take heed

Mindfulness is needed here in the world

Pain and grief are like weapons hurled.

All the woes of this vale of tears

Scream loudly in our ears

Sacred heart give us hope

In you we trust , help us cope.

OH! help us to help each other

Now in our hour of need to love our sister and brother.

Compassion

What time are we going home.

What time are we having tea

A question now often asked of me

Are going out shopping  today

We’ve already been,what can I say.

Image found here

How long do I cook the beans 

What’s the time, more and more

I know that you are still in there

Slipping away slowly, it’s not fair.

Image found here

There is sometimes a light in your eye

Are you remembering days gone by

It so strange you still look the same.

Slipping away, life’s a cruel game.

Image found here

What time are we going home

You can stay I shall go alone.

Stay and have cup of tea with me

There’s​ nowhere to go, we’re home you see.

Memories : Nano PoBlano

Day 4  NANO POBLANO   Memories  a poem

 

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m41998EMwz1qghx25o1_500.jpg

They  wriggle  and they giggle  and they run and hide

But  you know that they are in there, you’re the one who put them inside.

They hint  and they suggest,  they rub around the edge

You have to keep them active for absence of them turns  your mind to veg.

 

They are beautiful  and ugly , huge and very small

They are  full of importance and yet  they have none at all.

Warm and soft  and fluffy , scary  , evil  and terrifying

Having  a birthday party or turbulence while flying.

 

Having  your  first baby  or your wedding day

But  when you have to answer  that  question you’re lost for what  to say.

Dancing with your first love  kissing him goodnight

Arguing  with your family  .. boy that was an almighty  fight !

 

Fighting off depression, facing down your fears

Memories dancing  and prancing escaping  through your ears.

Your first teddy’s name was Jingles your first job was blast

If  you let  your  memories run  it’s like  a film with a giant cast!

 

You  need to keep it active  you cannot let it rest

For if you do not use it deserts you and that is not for the best.

Watch it  very  carefully be aware of tricks it will play on  you

Remember  you must keep it buzzing or it will wonder off ,that’s true.

 

They  wriggle  and they giggle  and they run and hide

But  you know that they are in there, you’re the one who put them inside.

They hint  and they suggest,  they rub around the edge

You have to keep them active for absence of them turns  your mind to veg.

 

NaBloPoMo : Dementia , Alzheimer’s Cruel Game.

http://www.healthshire.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/depression-2.jpg

She is not in there she has gone.

Why  search for the beautiful  light that once shone,

She is no  more herself, her soul  has fled

Gone to us, to all purposes dead.

 

How  cruel,  how mean,  how so unkind

To leave a feeble body and take a beautiful mind.

There are no words that can truly  describe

The pain and fear of those trapped dead yet  still alive.

 

 

You can not reason they know no rhyme

They are gone and left us to mourn  behind.

The  tiny flashes of a knowing  eye is  just  a mockery

This is no longer your loved one,  they are no longer who they used to be.

 

 

Screams of anger, voices harsh with  fists of hate

You try so hard, you have so much on your plate.

There is  no more that  you can in all honesty  do

They may  be gone ,  but you can hold you patience  and to their love  be true.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have written  this  for http://ramblingsfromamum.wordpress.com/     she needs our hugs.