The One Called Dulcie

I don't quite unnderstand the way you expressed yourself in the last couple of lines Tina- but I suppose I am a bit slow- anyway I liked this poem- there are so many things you still want to ask the ones you have lost.

;)Pia

Hi there, Pia. A daughter is faced with role reversal here. I.e. with the task of looking after a mother who has become a child again. In my own mother's case it was early onset Alzheimer's, but there can be many reasons, both mental and physical.

I think the clue to the mother's mental state is in the second stanza, which I have slightly reworded, as it was a bit vague as it stood, and of course the last line, where the narrator says, 'The one...used to be my mother'.

Hope it's a bit clearer now, and thanks for telling me. 'Slow' you most certainly are not;-) Quite the reverse;-)

Tina

Hi Tina,

just read this poem with a passion, I think there
are many people that can relate to this one,
including myself. When you have to watch someone
close to you loose a part of who they once were,
it can be deeply distressing, in more ways than one.

The problem is, that when you're so close to that
person, you don't want to believe that it's
happening, even though you know deep down inside
it's inevitable.

When my dad died, it was so sudden to me, yet
everyone else around me knew he only had three days
to live. I kept telling them he was walking around
and would fight for months, but the next day, he
couldn't get out of bed and ended up with tubes
everywhere, over the next three days he just
deteriorated till he got to the point, he didn't
even know who I was.

I think it's a wonderful thing to be able to write
all this down with the freedom to know that there
are others out there, that have been through a
similar situation. Your mum must have been an
amazing person, not to have lost her temper, especially in times of stress, which I'm sure she had.

I only write all this down, because I'm sure you
won't mind.

Thankyou for sharing your story in a poem about
your mum.

Jenny.

Hi, Jenny. Thanks for sharing this, too.

My Dad had looked after my mum for over ten years. She had early onset Alzheimer's from the age of fifty. Then, he himself suffered a massive stroke and was obviously unable to look after her any longer. After time in hospital they arranged a nursing home place for him...unable to move hardly, or even communicate, which is where this poem comes in.

By this time, my mother could do virtually nothing for herself and became even more helpless than a child. In the end I couldn't cope...this was way back in the late seventies, and she was sectioned and admitted to an asylum, where fortunately she only lived for another two weeks. In those days, 'Alzheimer's' was another word for 'mad'. Thank God times have changed.

Thanks again for reading and telling your story.

Tina

Hello Tina,

I didn't realise you had been through so much, with
your parents, your daughter and your husband.

I'm lighting a candle for coral's health tonight,
so I will light two candles for you and your
husband and wish blessings for both of you.

Take care.

Jenny.

Thank you, so very much for your words, and for that lovely gesture. May your candles burn, ever bright, Jenny;-)

Tina

thought i'd read one that isnt in your cherry orchard and - think it rather oughta be! lovely stuff sss. you really can conjure up atmosphere and images without (it seems to me) going over the top. loved it!

Alice, how sweet of you;-) Thank you, so very much for your words. You have made my day. Hope you have a lovely weekend;-)

Tina

Yes Tina- my Mum was much like a child too with her Alzeimers. Such a beautiful tender poem.

;)Pia

I am so sorry to hear about your mum, Pia. It is a cruel disease, both for the sufferer and their family.

I am pleased, though, that you got something from this, and much appreciate your words;-)

Have a good weekend, and hopefully a sunny one.

Tina;-)