My wife has had Alzheimers for nearly 9 years.
Experiences during this time led to my writing this poem, which I entered in the national Senior Poet Laureate contest, sponsored by Angels without Wings Foundation. It was awarded first prize. I share it with you, in hopes it will bless you.


OF WINE, CHEESE, AND LOVE

Love placed a trembling kiss upon
her soft and sensuous waiting lips;
compelled him often to drive for hours
to spend what seemed like moments with
his girl before the long trip back.
Love led them to the altar where
the two became one flesh, one hope,
one spirit until death intrudes.
Love spawned a growing family,
survived the tears and fears and jeers,
has flourished now for fifty years.
Love is the tie that binds them still,
bestows the kiss on faded lips,
and smoothes the graying hair each night;
helps her recall the grandkids' names
and where they've gone and what they've done;
finds her lipstick and her purse.
Love keeps her thinking he's her hero
although his patience cracks and speech
comes out in martyr's tones he wants
to cancel and return to some
word graveyard never to come back.
Love hopes all things, endures all things,
is more than what they thought at first.

Ken Roller

Question:
Do you find writing to be a help in your role as care-partner?

Choices:
Writing helps me vocalize what I otherwise find dufficult to express.-
It also aids me in diagnosing my own weaknesses and strengths in this role.

 

Pastor Roller, thank you very much for your
Poem---it helped me recall the magnetism that brought me to my husband, who has been battling Alzheimers for the past 3 years, since his retirement, age 66. Hope is all we have and the helpful hands of God to carry us through this dreadful disease. I pray that one day soon someone will find a vaccine to intervene and help all the people in the future. This disease penetrates total families and reduces their quality of living to near zero!