A Prison of the Mind
A Prison of the Mind
This prison does not have to have bars of steel,
But the barriers to freedom remain just as real.
There is no judge that can free her on bail,
And no able lawyer that can keep her from jail.
It started so simply, just a phrase here and there,
And also a memory, that vanished in thin air.
She was starting to repeat, things she'd already said,
Offering only faint clues as to what lay ahead.
She slowly grew worse, as the seasons passed by.
She knew something was wrong, but not what, or why.
Just to go out would become such a task,
For over and over, the same questions she'd ask.
Then came the times when in anger and fear,
She'd beg: "Please help me!" and weep bitter tears.
Now for some time she has lived here with us,
And every evening she'll make such a big fuss.
"I want to go home! Why can't I just leave?"
The answers we give her, she just can't receive.
Slowly, but surely, the disease shuts her in.
Now we can see the beginning of the end.
What is this illness, with no cure we can find?
Alzheimer's Disease, it's a prison of the mind.
© 1997, Jerry Ham
Today I lost a very dear friend to alzheimers disease. When I first started to work at Homeplace I met her and fell in love with her. Today I found that she had passed on. It is days like today I wonder if this is the job and line of work that I'm called to. But I just have to remember the fun times. I know not many of you can understand how I feel but I would just like you to read the poem for that is what azheimers is about.
This prison does not have to have bars of steel,
But the barriers to freedom remain just as real.
There is no judge that can free her on bail,
And no able lawyer that can keep her from jail.
It started so simply, just a phrase here and there,
And also a memory, that vanished in thin air.
She was starting to repeat, things she'd already said,
Offering only faint clues as to what lay ahead.
She slowly grew worse, as the seasons passed by.
She knew something was wrong, but not what, or why.
Just to go out would become such a task,
For over and over, the same questions she'd ask.
Then came the times when in anger and fear,
She'd beg: "Please help me!" and weep bitter tears.
Now for some time she has lived here with us,
And every evening she'll make such a big fuss.
"I want to go home! Why can't I just leave?"
The answers we give her, she just can't receive.
Slowly, but surely, the disease shuts her in.
Now we can see the beginning of the end.
What is this illness, with no cure we can find?
Alzheimer's Disease, it's a prison of the mind.
© 1997, Jerry Ham
Today I lost a very dear friend to alzheimers disease. When I first started to work at Homeplace I met her and fell in love with her. Today I found that she had passed on. It is days like today I wonder if this is the job and line of work that I'm called to. But I just have to remember the fun times. I know not many of you can understand how I feel but I would just like you to read the poem for that is what azheimers is about.
posted by Gloria at 9:35 PM
7 Comments:
oh, gloria. I'm sorry to hear that - at least, tho, you can remember the times you did share with her......
i'm not too good at this kind of stuff :), but loveya:D
Thanks Brandy. Its not how you say it that counts but the fact that you took the time to say it.
I didn't write this so much for the fact that she died but more for the fact that I wanted you guys to know what it is that this disease does to people. But thank you for the comment. It was very sweet.
Alzheimer's seems like a pretty horrible disease, but think about what heaven will be like with no sickness or pain! It's hard to imagine. I'm sorry too that you had to lose a good friend to it. It's hard to lose someone. Hang in there. :) Linz
oh, i'm sorry, I didnt know. () *hugs* not too good at this either....
oh, and about the thing on friday...dont worry about emailing everyone. pretty much everyone knows now, plus, i dont know if anyone else is showing up anyways, cause the college didnt advertise any where.
what's friday???
I am very very sooorry!!:(...
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