Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Magpie Tales #68, "The Nursing Home Visit", a poem

Photo Courtesy of Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales


The Nursing Home Visit

His gaze rests upon me,
seeing me not as I am.  His
shaking hand caresses my cheek
and tugs upon a non-existent
ponytail.  I look into his moist eyes,
sadly trying to imagine
how it would have felt
to see this devotion
when I was a little girl
desirous of his affection,
and not an image conjured up
by a doddering mind,
years too late.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, June 7, 2011

This is for Magpie Tales #68.  I also submitted this to One Stop Poetry's "One Shot Wednesday".  
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23 comments:

  1. Brian MillerJune 7, 2011 at 7:20 PM

    sad...dementia truly scares me...my mom turns 69 today...and i hope that it does not visit her...though i have seen it in other family...and spent time in college working at a retirement home as well where it was prevelant...

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  2. Ginny BrannanJune 7, 2011 at 7:26 PM

    This tugs at my emotions. Felt such a sadness reading this, both for the old man who can barely remember, and the now grown little girl who remembers the lack of affection to well.

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  3. Ned FrancisJune 7, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    Beautifully written, my mom also has a selective memory,"conjured up from absent yet vivid (in her mind)experiance. All we can do is LOVE THEM! we will miss them when they are gone. Bless you, NFN!

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  4. AnonymousJune 7, 2011 at 8:09 PM

    wow, your photo really brings to life the message in your poem...i worked while in college at a home for the aged, and i will never forget how much there was to learn and experience with people years and years ahead of me...especially when that someone is a loved one...I like the way your poem gently and sensitively addresses the realization of aging...and knowing one day someone will be searching for us, somewhere inside our withered body...

    a touching poem...

    sincerely,

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  5. HelenJune 7, 2011 at 8:28 PM

    I could write volumes about this poignant piece ... it hits on every level possible as we watch our parents age ~ as we ourselves age.

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  6. TexWisGirlJune 7, 2011 at 8:32 PM

    oh my. really well done.

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  7. Lisa GordonJune 7, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    So sad, yet so very beautiful Margaret.

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  8. G-ManJune 7, 2011 at 9:28 PM

    Margaret...
    You are so talented!

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  9. Sioux RoslawskiJune 7, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    I lost my dad in December. He had had Alzheimer's for years. This was one of the most moving magpies I've ever read.

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  10. MargaretJune 7, 2011 at 11:14 PM

    I truly thank you all for such a kind response to my poem! It truly encourages me to keep trying each week.

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  11. lucychiliJune 7, 2011 at 11:40 PM

    sad but gentle

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  12. signed...bkmJune 8, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    A powerful write with Father's Day this week...my dad is getting old..I feel I am getting old too..Nice write..bkm

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  13. EG CameraGirlJune 8, 2011 at 7:26 AM

    Thank you, Your poem touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes.

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  14. UnknownJune 8, 2011 at 8:03 AM

    poignant read, written beautifully and I'm sure striking chords within many of us ....thank you

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  15. Pat HattJune 8, 2011 at 8:36 AM

    You words are so in kind
    About memories one tries to find
    Great one shot you put into place
    With your words making some thoughts race

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  16. UnknownJune 8, 2011 at 9:43 AM

    Your writing is amazing.. I wish I could write like that.

    Hugs, Linda

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  17. LolamouseJune 8, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    Sad and touching. Nicely done Magpie.

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  18. izzyJune 8, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    Love the non existent pony tail- really nice and very true. It does bring us back to the times when we really needed the tenderness and got none. Thanks.

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  19. hyperCRYPTICalJune 8, 2011 at 6:14 PM

    Margaret - this is wonderful, wonderful in its sadness. It tugged at my heartstings and made me sigh.

    Respect.

    Anna :o]

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  20. The BraveJune 9, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    This was so sad and beautiful. I can relate to this poem and feel the woman's pain and wanting. Excellent work.

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  21. Tess KincaidJune 9, 2011 at 2:58 PM

    Poignant and beautiful. I think we all can relate to this one, M.

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  22. AnonymousJune 10, 2011 at 4:33 PM

    This is devastating and beautiful as a neglected child I can relate for the yearning for affection

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  23. Steve IsaakJune 14, 2011 at 6:07 PM

    Solid read.

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