Pirates of Sanity


Voices plunder
his thoughts
stealing his sanity.

He laughs
at what others
can’t hear.

Runs from gargoyles
that speak
from marble throats.

Breaks mirrors
that taunt
with silver lips.

He stares at his walls
searching for faces
in the paint.

Lavender shadows
beckon him
with the voice of his wife.

He reaches to touch her face
only to find his hands
holding the dining room curtains.

Reality is tiny moments
that flash with recognition’s eyes
to then be swallowed in the mist.

He is sailing with pirates
on dementia’s ship
taking him further from today.

©Susie Clevenger 2012
This was written for A Word With Laurie: Dementia at Real Toads
Laurie challenged us to write on dementia. It is a topic I am personally familiar with. I have referred to my mother's Alzheimer's disease numerous times. In this piece I decided to write from the voice of a man.

Comments

Daydreamertoo said…
Oh this is another truly 'deep' one from you today. Lovely imagery but, the subject is so heart breakingly sad.
Hannah said…
Wow, Susie, you've really crafted something so amazing here. What a painful scary situation to be in. This is really well done. I love the voices from marbled throat of gargoyle. So good.
Kerry O'Connor said…
Oh how heart-breaking to read of someone afraid of his own reflection, looking for a wife in the folds of the drapes. So much is lost to the marauding disease.
ayala said…
Heavy and deep...I know an emotional write for you, Susie.
Mary said…
The last three stanzas were so sad and poignant.... Someone thinking the dining room curtains was the face of the loved one. Yes, it must be good if one feels one is in touch with reality, if even for a little while. And sailing on the pirates' ship is such a perfect metaphor.
Susie Swanson said…
Sad and amazing,You captured it so good..I can see him there alone..This must have been quite emotional for you..
Susan said…
Wow. "dementia's ship" Such truth.

Does he have a minute of joy with the faces before they are wall and curtain and mist? I so hope that it is not all frustration and pain.
Laurie Kolp said…
A lovely, vivid capture and I like that you did it from the POV of a man. I especially enjoyed:

Lavender shadows
beckon him
with the voice of his wife

I hope this wasn't hard on you.
Sherry Blue Sky said…
I loved hearing a man's voice......so touching him reaching towards the drapes for his wife. I especially am impressed by "he is sailing with pirates on dementia's ship". Absolutely wonderful and moving writing.
Isadora Gruye said…
I really liked the verse about gargoyles....I like how you offered a series of glimpses into deterioration. Viva la
Helen said…
This is incredibly, incredibly lovely. And oh so poignant.
Scarlet said…
I admire your words here as I don't know dementia like you have.

This is sad reality, the use of the ship is good metaphor ~ Enjoyed the write today ~
Other Mary said…
Poignant is the word. This is wonderfully written.
Kay L. Davies said…
Fabulous, Susie. I also admire "sailing with pirates on dementia's ship" because I watched those pirates rob my father of his purpose, his memory, his vibrant personality, and finally his life. I mourned his loss long before he died.
K
Linda H. said…
Wonderful poem. I love your wording, especially "sailing with pirates on dementia's ship"--that says it all, doesn't it?

My father-in-law has dementia. It is difficult to see the changes with each visit.
Luke Prater said…
disturbing yet compelling piece, Susie. Brave write
Marian said…
it is like being plundered, isn't it?
Ella said…
I love how you captured this prompt with pirates! We are plundered when our memory walks the plank...so sad and so well done~!