I met a man at urgent care
He was my roommate for a spell
I was there for dizziness
He was there because he fell

Tom, was old and in bad shape
Dementia ruled his world
He was found beside the toilet
All rolled up, his body curled

Beside him on the other side
Another woman lay
Dementia was her trouble too
That's two in just one day

What causes this mind madness
Is it chemical or a gene?
But, the numbers keep on climbing
To heights we've never seen

It used to be that cancer
was the one that touched most lives
But now, it seems Dementia
touches more as cancer dives

A prisoner knowing nobody
A fabricated world at best
A mind not knowing anyone
Puts a family to the test

Cancer is established
It has foundations and sells well
But, how do you approach Dementia
And help the people in this hell

Today, I had a roommate
His name was Tom, and he was old
I hope the world that he created
Is one where the streets are lined with gold.

a


young


woman's


poem


some


subtlety


of


feeling


not­


well

expressed


no


questioning


of


veracity


or


how
­

it


lies


best !

That time in summer's red, the hilly sands I climbed
willow grass woven white with yarrow, fragrantly entwined
my eyes softened in sea drift's tide, of puddled shallows
ocean sang in rising waves, wild sea kelp tangled
sun slept scarce hours, it's shining seaward beams
that only leave as the final silhouette
vanishes into night's dream

As I walked the woods
I met a hanging man
He creaked his head and said to me
“Hello fellow, where are you going?”
But I passed the hanging man

As I walked the woods
I met a drowning woman
She raised her head and said to me
“Hello fellow, where are you going?”
But I passed the drowning woman

As I walked the woods
I met a burning boy
He bowed his head and said to me
“Hello fellow, where are you going?”
But I passed the burning boy

As I walked the woods
I met a bleeding girl
She turned her head and said to me
“Hello fellow, where are you going?”
But I passed the bleeding girl

As I walked the woods
I met a waving birch
It shaved its bark and said to me
“Hello fellow, where are you going?”
But I passed the waving birch

So if you see a man wandering in the woods,
Be kind and leave him be
Leave him be as if it were you
Or
Leave him be as if it were me

I pray thee sun thou should set,
or take thy leave better yet,
wouldst at last my thirst be gone,
But alas thee linger, and linger on.

There be no flower not yet dead,
no water flows in yonder river bed.
'Tis a heat where nought doth grow,
nor doth thee ever mercy show.

Dry of skin and parch of throat,
a man doth need no overcoat.
Thy rays doth burn mine eyes,
they do not hear mine mercy cries.

If there be a place where chill be found,
'Tis there it be that I be bound,
A place where there be no burning sun,
show it to me, so to it I shall run.

(c) 26th January 2010
with apoligies to all you Shakespeare freaks

Smoking after ***
makes me think
I need more ****