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Saturday, December 29, 2012

Real Toads: year-end words with Laurie

Over at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Laurie has given us the list of words she used in for "A Word with Laurie" in 2012. We're invited to use any or all of the words in a new poem.
Here's what came to me when I looked at the list. I'm not sure if this can be called three short poems, or one longer poem.


1946


ethereal bride
her veil an effervescence
no brighter
than her smile






I watched my parents
2003
cross the line,
that demarcation line
between
daily life and
dementia,
it was the hardest thing
I’ve ever done:
accepting my helplessness
in the face of theirs

in dreams I’m caught
in turgid mud
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net
then comes the flood
of tears to wash
the mud away

yet, when I
wake up, I find
the tears are real
the mud was not—
in what emotion
was I caught?


These are the words I used from Laurie's list.
Demarcation



9 comments:

Sherry Blue Sky said...

So poignant, Kay. In the third stanza, maybe it is grief. When Pup died, the flood of grief was so extreme and lasted so long, I began to understand that it is a rather all-encompassing emotion. I was also grieving all the losses I didnt grieve when I was younger. Plus grieving my life, which is lying mostly behind me, now, not ahead of me. Beautiful writing. Love the photo of your folks. That is the year I was born. And how sad watching them slip into dementia - but their smiles are just as bright. I loved these.

Laurie Kolp said...

So hard to watch parents go down like that. My mom has osteoporosis and it is getting so bad. She refuses to admit it, though. I just love your last two stanzas. Thanks for taking part and Happy New Year, Kay!

Grace said...

Love the personal share Kay ~ Its sad to see them going into dementia and being helpless to help them ~

I also like the last share, of dreams and waking up to feel real tears, its our unconscious telling us something ~

Happy New Year ~

Hannah said...

These are all such emotionally packed pieces and I really enjoy how they encompass moments of the past vividly. Beautiful words, Kay.

kaykuala said...

I can relate to this Kay! It brings back reality at its most raw. Dealing with dementia is such a test of strength and patience. Not many can understand and worst not many can take it! Your folks look so wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

Hank

Kerry O'Connor said...

I know where this comes from, the dreams of parents who have died and the waking in tears... It's a bitter-sweet haunting.

Fran said...

This brought tears to my eyes. I can remember my Nan falling into her own world. But Grandad always said it didn't matter what she remembered or didn't as long as she was happy in the world she was in xxx

Jo said...

Beautiful and poignant sharing in these stanzas, Kay. Thanks for your visits to my blog while I was "absent" - again! I am back and blogging full time again. Hugs to you all, not forgetting dear Lindy. I wish you and Dick and family a happy and healthy 2013. Blessings Jo

Susan said...

Probably nothing is so clear as the muddiness of our human stories. Some are so poignant that we smile and cry simultaneously. Bravo.