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LOVE UNDYING by Ginny Brannan


Life is a journey, and as we age sometimes there are bends in the road that we will never foresee…

I am employed by a post-acute rehabilitation and skilled nursing facility. Some of our residents come and stay only briefly to recuperate from surgery. Others reside with us because they have physical handicaps or specific medical needs that their families are not equipped to handle.  And many come to us because they have become lost in their own world with Alzheimer’s or dementia,  and require round-the-clock care to keep them safe and comfortable. 

Each resident touches my heart and inspires me in some way with his or her story. This is one such story, one of my “tales from the inside,” about a woman who came to stay in our facility, and the husband who visited her faithfully each day…

Love Undying

He comes to visit each day,
reminding us as he enters that he’ll
be taking her home as soon as she’s
better, as soon as she’s stronger;
his dear sweet wife.

He lives for this woman, now mute
regressed in her memory--
holding tightly to a baby doll
perhaps for comfort, or perhaps
lost in vision of childhood
long past.

He gently wheels her through the halls
as though on some grand tour--
then he sits on the sofa in the hall
and lovingly clasps her pale parchment hand.
Talking softly, he asks

“Do you know what day today is?
It’s New Years eve day”

……“Can you hear me?”

……“Do you know who I am?”

and I wonder…

When I am old and lost in my thoughts
will someone come to see me each day,
gently take me by the hand--
and quietly remind me who I am?

(To listen to Ginny recite this poem click here)


Ginny Brannan: Residing in New England with husband of 31 years, son and two cats, Ginny Brannan took poetry and creative writing courses in both high school and college. Foregoing degree, she headed directly into the workforce. In 2009, Ginny found herself out of work and facing the ominous task of finding employment in a cyber world and declining job market. Struggling to keep afloat, a long-time friend suggested she tap back into her creative side and pick up a pen and write (or Macbook and type as case may be). She credits the therapeutic effects of writing to getting her through this stressful time. Ginny writes both traditional poetry and free verse. She has been published in The River Muse, an on-line Art & Literary Journal. You may read more of her poetry on her website here, listen to her recite her poems here or connect with her Ginny on twitter.  

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~  

Comments

  1. This poem is beautiful. It makes you wonder if we will have a soulmate to be there in our golden year's. I sure pray that we all do.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This so reaches into my heart. My mother had Alzheimer's and I watched my father tenderly take care of her even when he had to put her in a nursing home. Thanks for writing and sharing such a beautiful piece.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is beautiful Ginny and it brought tears to the corners of my eyes.

    I have seen this love too.

    Anna :o]

    ReplyDelete

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