The Albemarle Rest Home
by poetrydiary
Amongst the row of faces waiting death
is one I know; her mirrored eyes my own.
Like ancient sailors held in Siren song –
here sung by soft armchairs and patterned rugs –
they sit with cups of tea and biscuits, brought
by strangely purposed nurses, patiently.
Only their eyes resist that strengthening pull –
call back like whales to days long gone
of youthful lives on tennis courts,
school open days with charts and pens,
parental hopes and grandchildren;
of lovers trysts and last year’s post;
to yesterday and slowly fading vows,
and yesterday again, which seems much like tomorrow now.
Amongst the row of faces waiting death
is one I know. She’ll always be my mum.
*********************
This rest home specialises in dementia. We reached the point at which we could no longer cope with caring for my mother in the family home two weeks ago.
Posted on d’Verse Open Link night.
poetry diary 
This resonates with me… my mum is at a place like that as well… I think she has come to a point where even yesterday is gone.
A very poignant poem Matthew and yes, she will always be your mum.
My heart is with you. I lost my mum to Alzheimer’s some years ago, but the pain remains. It is the long goodbye.
I am very sad to hear this Matthew ~ Yes, she will always be your mum ~
Thanks Grace
I am so sorry and so sad to hear this Matthew 😦 Yes she will always be you mum.
You have written a very beautiful homage to your mom, a beautiful poem for a deep and complex time in your lives. Thank you for sharing a little bit of her full life to appreciate and enjoy the woman she was.
“call back like whales to days long gone” is the line that called me back to read and read again – beautiful! Raw, real poem for a raw reality of this life. It is observation until that final line, then it becomes revelation. Outstanding work! Jilly
I liked the sound of these lines: “to yesterday and slowly fading vows,
and yesterday again, which seems much like tomorrow now.” I suppose we are all waiting for death but being in a rest home makes death harder to ignore.
So sorry to hear this – it’s so heartbreaking to see that change in the person one loves. That second stanza is just perfect in its balance.
yesterday again, which seems much like tomorrow now
very very heartfelt & profound sadness.
aww! this hurts. i can feel you, we are taking care of our very old grandmother now. she is sick, weak, dependent for us now, recently suffered from a heart attack. 😦 😦 i am a nurse too. a heartfelt write. 🙂