I searched your hollow eyes
for my face, elbowed my way
through memories to see
if even a sliver of mirror
held my reflection.
All I found were wisps of blond hair
and a little girl clinging to the edge
of the drowning pool crying
she’d never learned to swim.
Gone, pulled under by the rapids
of erasing I watched myself disappear.
Mama blinked and spoke, “I can’t find my baby.”
©Susie Clevenger 2019
Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Real Toads ~ Just One Word ~ Sensation
Felt this to the bottom of my toes.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! This is quite hellish, Susie. You have expressed the terrible loss so well from both perspectives.
ReplyDeleteOh gah Susie. This is jarring, perfectly jarring. xo
ReplyDeleteThis is terrifying... there is something so terrifying in the image of the drowning...
ReplyDeleteWow! The end was a bit unexpected.
ReplyDeleteRiveting, Susie. Wow. I could see it so clearly.
ReplyDeleteThis is heart breaking but utterly beautiful! The poetic imagery packs a powerful punch! Such a grief to watch the loss grow!
ReplyDeleteWoah! This made me sit up! It's haunting and riveting.
ReplyDeleteWow! This is terrifying.
ReplyDeleteThis is heart-breaking, Susie. I could feel every word!
ReplyDelete*shudders*
ReplyDeleteI've seen the horrors of memory loss portrayed in many different ways, but... wow, Susie. This squeezes the bones and leaves us cold. Awareness with teeth.
Oh...so well written...can't even imagine!!
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