Dignity and Pride.
Confused and dazed, he walks the ward day and night
Can’t tell the difference between dark between light.
Unsure of his stature or the role he’s to play
From pillar to post, he’ll wander all day.
His nurses are servants but he feels he’s in gaol
With all doors secured and no chance of bail
A fortress, a prison, his description not mine
He’s done nothing wrong but still serving time.
He just wants to leave and stands by the doors
And when someone nears, he begs, he implores
Please take me home, just get me out
So broken and tearful, he can’t even shout.
He’s adamant, proud but his eyes tell a tale
This once upright man is destined to fail.
He can’t be trusted to be on his own
For back to a baby, this old man has grown.
The highlight for him is a breath of fresh air
And have just one cigarette with the people “out there”
But once he’s outside, the panic sets in
He shuffles then freezes amidst all the din.
I don’t know his illness, dementia or worse,
Maybe it’s age or was he blessed with a curse?
He sits down to coffee then walks away
His coffee untouched from a brain now decayed.
A green yellow glaze discolours his eyes
And a vacant expression of thought, I surmise
Of constantly pacing the floor all day long
And asking himself, “where do I belong?”
This educated man once had thick golden hair
A scholar perhaps, quite suave, debonair.
Now the blond’s grey, his youthfulness gone
He needs special care, all day long.
I’m not his carer, I couldn’t handle the stress
He just wants his life back, no more and no less.
This could be you with your life totally wrecked
But you still have dignity so show some respect.
His life once so rich now lies in a heap
Memories treasured, he no longer can keep
Through no fault of his own, did he end up this way
His memory’s dying, it’s dying each day.
The helplessness, hurt and the pain deep inside
Reflects in his eyes through the tears he has cried
He’s breaking his heart but doesn’t know why
He only seeks solace, like you or like I.
Paul Colvin.