i'm a newbie on this site which is most ironic because my loved one passed away a few months ago now. i wish i had found this resource earlier, while i was helping to take care of my grandmother. but, i figured i'd join because in a little way i think it will help me grieve, and if there's a chance that i can help at all anyone who is going through it now.
my issue is that i'm looking for a poem that i read once that was written by a relative of an alzheimer's patient. it was during that time when the person starts to forget who people are, and the relative is telling them basically, incase you don't remember me the next time i'm here, know that i will love you always.
it really reminded me of the first time my grandmother couldn't remember my name, and then later on, when she didn't know who i was at all. all i can hope is that even though she didn't know who i was most of the time, that she still knew deep down that i loved her so very much. if anyone has come across anything like this, or has anything else that they particularly liked (either on this subject, or the recent loss of a loved one who suffered from this disease) i would greatly appreciate you're sharing.

All Stranger Now to Me



YOU CAN’T SEE HOW I FEEL INSIDE, YOU CAN’T FEEL THE PAIN,
YOU CAN ONLY WATCH IN AWE AS I FORGET YOUR NAME
WHAT’S THAT YOU SAY, HOW CAN I NOT , REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE,
I TRY SO HARD, BUT IN MY MIND, FAMILIAR SEEMS SO FAR


HOW WILL IT BE WHEN I NO LONGER SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE
WHEN THE WORLD THAT I KNOW NOW, IS DISTANT AS A STAR
HOW WILL IT BE WHEN FACES LOVED NO LONGER WILL I SEE
JUST PEOPLE I DON’T RECOGNIZE , ALL STRANGERS NOW TO ME


INSIDE MY HEAD THERE LIES A PLACE, IT’S DARK AND FILLING FAST
IT STORES MY MEMORIES OLD AND NEW AND KEEPS THEM OUT OF GRASP
THE DOOR IS LOCKED, I CAN’T GET IN , NO MATTER HOW I TRY
ONCE IN THIS ROOM MY THOUGHTS ARE LOST, ALL I CAN DO IS CRY…


HOW WILL IT BE WHEN I NO LONGER SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE
WHEN THE WORLD THAT I KNOW NOW SEEMS DISTANT AS A STAR
HOW WILL IT BE WHEN FACES LOVED NO LONGER WILL I SEE
JUST PEOPLE I DON’T RECOGNIZE, ALL STRANGERS NOW TO ME


NO-ONE KNOWS THE FEAR INSIDE, THE LONLINESS WITHIN
THE DARKNESS FILLING SPACES, WHERE MEMORIES HAVE BEEN
I WALK AND TALK, SEE AND FEEL , I LOOK LIKE THINGS ARE FINE
YET I KNOW THAT TOMORROW, I WONT’ KNOW WHAT ONCE WAS MINE..


HOW WILL IT BE WHEN I NO LONGER SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE
WHEN THE WORLD THAT I KNOW NOW SEEMS DISTANT AS A STAR
HOW WILL IT BE WHEN FACES LOVED NO LONGER WILL I SEE
JUST PEOPLE I DON’T RECOGNIZE, ALL STRANGERS NOW TO ME..

WHILE THOUGHTS AND MEMORIES DWINDLE, AS TIME BEGINS TO CEASE
KNOW THAT IN MY HEART AND SOUL THERE IS AN INNER PEACE
LOVE IS NOT FORGOTTEN, MY HEART WILL ALWAYS SEE
ALL THE THINGS MY MIND CANNOT, ALL YOU ARE TO ME.

HOW WILL IT BE WHEN I NO LONGER SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE
WHEN THE WORLD THAT I KNOW NOW, SEEMS DISTANT AS A STAR
HOW WILL IT BE WHEN FACES LOVED NO LONGER WILL I SEE
JUST PEOPLE I DON’T RECOGNIZE, ALL STRANGERS NOW TO ME.

Do not ask me to remember.
Don’t try to make me understand.
Let me rest and know you’re with me.
Kiss my cheek and hold my hand.

I’m confused beyond your concept.
I am sad and sick and lost.
All I know is that I need you
To be with me at all cost.

Do not lose patience with me.
Do not scold or curse or cry.
I can’t help the way I’m acting.
I can’t be different though I try.

Just remember that I need you,
That the best of me is gone.
Please don’t fail to stand beside me,
Love me ‘til my life is done.

I Remember

We look at faded photographs
Of loved ones from the past.
You recognize their faces—
You remember them so fast.
But when you look into my eyes,
You do not know my name—
The relationship we built with care
Will never be the same.

I remember. . .
The moments that we shared.
I remember. . .
The things that proved you cared.
Oh, you always knew what troubled me and listened to my fears.
You’d sing to me and hold me close and wipe away my tears.
I remember, I remember. . .
Do you remember me?

The person that I look at now
Resembles someone dear.
You must be deep inside somewhere—
You must know that I’m here.
This person that I’ve known so long
Is simply not the same.
My heart aches when I realize:
You don’t even know your name!

I remember. . .
The moments that we shared.
I remember. . .
The things that prove you cared.
Oh, you always knew what troubled me and listened to my fears.
You’d sing to me and hold me close and wipe away my tears.
I remember, I remember. . .
Do you remember me?

(Instrumental)
It seems this endless vigil
Is too hard and so unfair,
But the thought of losing all of you
Is more than I can bear.

Your mind is in another place,
Held captive by disease.
I hope it’s where the angels dwell
Or with happy memories!

I’ll get you all the help you need,
And I will be there, too.
I’ll remind you of how great you are
And people who love you.

I’ll remember. . .
The moments that we share.

Not sure exactly which poem you are looking for, but if one of these is not it, I'll look again.

Shellyo, thank you so much for requesting the poem.
TB thank you for posting all three. They are all so beautiful!

I dont know which one I like best. I am printing them all for future inspriation.

I know it might be a difficult assignment. But it might be a wonderful experience if we each tried to write our own poem. Or prose. From our own heart and soul and gut. --Jim

Jim that sounds like it would be wonderful but a challenge.I'm up for trying it.

thanks so much for those TB, they weren't exactly what i was looking for, but they're all what i was looking for in general. i could really relate to the second one in particular. and i think jim's idea is really good, except i can't promise that i'll participate, i'm not very good at that sort of thing.

"Musings
Share your thoughts, emotions, meditations, observations and poems."

This is actually one of our forums, in which you may find what you saw before.
Musings Forum

You could also try "Googling" phrases from the poem.

Shellyo, here's a collection of poems written by family members and caregivers. Perhaps you might find what you're looking for here.

http://members.lycos.nl/gelsomina/adindex.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Marvite:
Shellyo, here's a collection of poems written by family members and caregivers. Perhaps you might find what you're looking for here.

http://members.lycos.nl/gelsomina/adindex.htm

Marvite, what a beautiful site! Thank you for sharing.

TB: You are a wealth of information! You contstantly amaze me with the information you are able to provide...(sibs don't like it much becuase they may not talk to me but most of these poems I do forward to them so they perhaps can reach an understanding somehow of what their mother is going thru....just hoping to spart some form of empathy, sympathy or compassion in them somehow.....but thank you

Hi Shellyo I'm not sure if this could be what you're looking for but let me know.

MY DEAR, I LOVE YOU
By: Jerry Ham

From one who has alzheimers,and yes it is hard
Just for a moment,let me share from my heart.
Please forgive me for the things that I say.
If I were well,I would not be this way.
Although I can't tell you,I'm so glad you are here.
But I know you are hurting,cause I see your tears.
I wish I could tell you,what you mean to me.
Could we please go back to what we used to be?
But no,we are here,and I'm a stranger it seems.
Though I might wish otherwise,it's more than a dream.
Please,just remember,when I curse and yell,
it's not really me that you see,just my shell,
In spite of the difficult days we'll go through,
this one thing is true..my Dear..I love you.

Another for you.

SAY MY NAME
By: Nancy Allen

Please say my name
Just once today,so that I will know
That you have not forgotten
How much I love you so

Tell me you remember
Who I am,and from where I came
Please just whisper softly
One more time, my name

Don't let this be the day
That you look past my face
Trying to remember
Another time another place

Just say my name once today
It's music to my ears
Tell me you remember
All the happy years

I'll be here right beside you
Even when you forget
I'll hold your hand
I'll kiss your cheek

We can't let go just yet
There are many more things we have to do
Many more walks to take
Spending time with one another
More memories to make

But there is one thing you need to know
As long as this goes on
I need you as much as you need me
Because you are still my MOM!

If and when you find the poem, Please post it for us.

i haven't found the exact one yet, but am still looking, and i will be sure to post it when i find it. thanks so much to everyone who has looked and posted suggestions. i really didn't know if i would get any responses, so this is all just very overwhelming. thanks so much.