Hello everyone. The Ragtag Daily Prompt today is AFRAID. A word with so many shades, from embarrassed to reluctant to a bit fearful to terrified.
I’m afraid — somewhat embarrassed, that is — that I’ve been very slow to respond. Today I’ve been occupied with a sewing project. And I’m afraid — reluctant to admit and say — that I won’t be doing much blogging for a couple of weeks, as I MUST attend to other important things that have been piling up.
As long as nothing goes “BUMP” in the night, I’m not seriously fearful about anything right now.
Here’s a poem about fear, and how fearful folks with dementia sometimes feel. They know something’s wrong; they sense that their mind isn’t working like it should; and (if they’re still with it enough) they wonder how much more confused they’re going to get.
My verse probably needs some help and I’m open to suggestions how I can improve it.
Wandering in a strange whiteness
I’ve lost my mind in a snowbank,
I’m half frozen — and the wind
has blotted out what I should know;
memories buried in snow.
Perhaps I know you, but the blur
drifting across my eyes today
has made vague shrouds
of the familiar. I can’t recall
in these grey, blinding clouds,
who I once was, or how…
I’m related to you, you say?
I’m afraid I’ve forgotten.
How I wish some breeze
could blow this fog out of my mind;
melt this snow, warm my bones,
show me where I should be,
I hate to have to sit here
half the day, blind and frozen.
Christine's Collection 
My sister has had Alzheimer’s for 10 years..Slight thaws now and then but usually as you describe in Christine. So heartbreaking.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment. We went there with Mom, too.
When she was a teen, my daughter worked in a nursing home and one time a resident came by muttering, “I can’t find it. I just can’t find it.”
She asked him what he was looking or and he replied, “My mind. I’ve lost my mind and I can’t find it.”
Funny in a way, but so sad when there’s still that awareness of loss.
LikeLike
Even momentary lapses scare me to death. I call imagine how horrible it would be not to be able to snap to…A horrible disease.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I agree! People talk about what an awful disease cancer is, but there are worse things, IMO. Maybe not more painful, but much more prolonged and more humiliating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agree completely.
LikeLike
I imagine this describes the condition very well, great verse, quite scary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it is scary. A person would like to look into the future…but as they say, “No point crossing that bridge before we get there.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very perceptive, and moving, piece. Clever use of the snow-scape as analogy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person