When he looked in the mirror
He had not a clue
That the old wrinkled up man
Was really him
I sit next to him and watch his expression closely.
Somewhere inside his life is living again
And sometimes he sheds a tear or two
When a slight memory comes to his mind
I can tell when he remembers his mother
his eyes soften, glistening from the hove he still feels after all these years
“Don’t leave me, I know you
My heart knows you I don’t
My heart loves you I’m sure
I just don’t know your name” I can read those words sometimes in his eyes
But lately his eyes are full of void
It’s like watching the sunset.
Last soothing light before darkness takes over and it gets cold
(September is world Alzheimer’s awareness month, Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. I have an uncle who suffers from it, and some of my friends and acquaintances have a relative who suffer from it)
My beloved mother in law this disease too. I know that your beautiful poem was about it before I read inside the parenthesis. You really got this feeling so nicely.
I hope you can find a way to lessen your terror. When I reached 70 I felt as though the really significant years of my life were now beginning with the preceding ones, however enjoyable, being mere preparation.
I hope that too. Getting old really scares me, I always wonder what will happen to my body when I get really old, will I become a burden, will I lose my memory, will I be able to walk, what about my finances, etc..Your words give me hope of better future and not to worry so much. When I was in my 20’s I thought being 30s is the end of life. Now I am in my thirties I’m now more mature and happier with my choices and more grateful for all the blessings in my life,
Thank you ❤ me too, me too I fear the old age so much. Are we only what our memories are?<<<<<Yes what we are without our memories, without recognizing the faces of our loved ones.
Voyager of freedom 
My beloved mother in law this disease too. I know that your beautiful poem was about it before I read inside the parenthesis. You really got this feeling so nicely.
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I’m sorry to hear that, it is a terrible disease in which you the person you love to slowly fade away =( I hope she still recognizes her family
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She forgets and remember, but she passed away at the age of 99 just few weeks back… 😦
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Sorry to hear that, may her soul rests in peace ❤ ❤ Hope she didn't suffer from Alzheimer for long times
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Sadly she did. It started almost 12 years ago. It was a slow transition. One of our comfort now is that she’s no longer in pain…
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So sad to hear, must be hard on your family to watch her fade away slowly =( Like you said it is a comfort that she’s no longer in pain
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WHEN I AM OLD
When I am old, do you suppose
That hairs will grow out of my nose,
And as I count the passing years
Will tufts of it sprout from my ears?
When arms and legs are thin and frail
And memory begins to fail
Shall I recall those days gone by
When passing women sought my eye?
When face is wrinkled, fold on fold,
And summer heatwaves leave me cold,
And teeth are gone, and eyes are weak,
Shall I lose all desire to speak?
When I have lived my lifespan through
And found at last a perfect view
Will others see there no more than
The mumblings of a mad old man?
When I am always far away,
Too deaf to hear a word you say,
Your feelings – will they be the same
When I keep asking you your name?
When mind’s decayed, and flesh repels,
And speech no longer casts its spells;
When I am old, then we shall see
Just what it was you loved in me.
– https://bennaga.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/when-i-am-old/
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Love, love this. Your words in this poem are the exact thoughts in my mind when thinking about getting older and older, and it terrifies me
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I hope you can find a way to lessen your terror. When I reached 70 I felt as though the really significant years of my life were now beginning with the preceding ones, however enjoyable, being mere preparation.
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I hope that too. Getting old really scares me, I always wonder what will happen to my body when I get really old, will I become a burden, will I lose my memory, will I be able to walk, what about my finances, etc..Your words give me hope of better future and not to worry so much. When I was in my 20’s I thought being 30s is the end of life. Now I am in my thirties I’m now more mature and happier with my choices and more grateful for all the blessings in my life,
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I suggest you try to minimise the amount of your current life spent worrying about the imagined. My father died in his 50s. Think on. 🙂
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You’re absolutely right!! Nothing good can come from worrying about the future, as you said life is indeed short.
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And definitely too short to drink bad wine.
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Touching. Moving. I really fear this. Are we only what our memories are? frightens me. Beautifully expressed.
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Thank you ❤ me too, me too I fear the old age so much. Are we only what our memories are?<<<<<Yes what we are without our memories, without recognizing the faces of our loved ones.
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