Struggle – v3

A bit of war poetry

read by featured poets

Brought that moment back to me

that night on the floor

Each of you with the same pursed Abbott lips

mother and daughter, roles reversed,

She with worried angry eyes

you with wild in yours

Out of place without him, Grampa,

in your dining room, center of family activity

(after the kitchen)

Now become your bedroom

I started from sleep, upstairs

I heard her cry for help

Because you wouldn’t bend to her will

Not letting her assist you that time

I struggled behind you

caught your limp thinning arms

under the armpits, forcing both of us up

The pull of my back against your dead weight

Putting you back to bed,

your red splotched arms

loose skin and anger

The loss you were fighting

Your dignity, independence,

your mind slipping from you

Knowing even in the losing

What was being lost

She brushed her hand now

against your brow, your hair

After the struggle, sliding in beside you in bed,

Where he had been for those sixty plus years

There in the room with the wallpaper he hung,

with the creaking boards and corner hunch

Where we all shared so much, so many moments,

Seven children, spouses, countless children

Fifty of us on one Thanksgiving alone

Seeing you there, labored breath

seeing it so clearly in your eyes

Unease, knowing a piece of the terror

When you had snapped your face to mine

When I was on the floor behind you

Struggling to help you

helping you maintain your pride

on your dining room floor.

----

edited March 13, 2015

Struggle – v3

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2015/03/struggle-v3.html

edited November 27, 2014

Struggle – v2

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2014/11/struggle-v2.html

Thanksgiving Day

August 18, 2004 21:53

Struggle

http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/2004/08/struggle.html

All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 48,100 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Alzheimers, child, Family, giving, God, hands, Poetry Where You Live, senses, sharing, Thanksgiving, Writing Poetry, America, memories, mother, daughter, struggle, dementia

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