Faith Meets Life: Alzheimer's hits home for young and old
Some of what I know about Alzheimer's Disease comes from talking with my sisters about my father's loss of memory. And some of it comes from a book of poems by Robert Taylor (M. D. K. Publishers, 2005). The book is called simply, Bob's Poems.
Alzheimer's is something that affects many of our grandparents or parents, and unfortunately, one day will probably affect many of us. Reading the poems drew me into the world of Bob's fears and faith. They have made me more aware of what many of the seniors we know and love are going through.
The first poem, “Old Man,” is written from the perspective of a little boy talking to his father. He asks who that man is that they often visit. He “looks a lot like Grampie.” “Sometimes I see his eyes are wet. Is he crying Dad? — or is he just an / Old man sitting in a chair?”
Another poem, “Please Speak to Me,” conveys the loneliness that comes from being unable to communicate because of Alzheimer's.
“I can hear you but / I may not know / what it is you are saying to me.” “But don't be afraid / to stop and talk to me anyway. . .”
In “Ten Brain Cells” Taylor reflects on the slow and heart-rending decline that threatens Alzheimer's patients. Have we any idea, he asks, how long it might take to die “ten brain cells at a time”?
With this collection of poems we experience the Alzheimer patient through the eyes of old friends and children. In the brief sections written by others we meet Taylor's wife and other family members. A grandchild asks God why such a difficult thing is happening to his grandfather.
Neither Taylor nor the other family members try to offer a complete answer to that question. But a sister to Taylor, and her husband, see meaning through the sad time her brother is going through. “It's as if God is using Bob to inform us of the plight of those inflicted with Alzheimer's.
In the last poem, “My Prayer,” Taylor expresses his own faith. ‘I pray Dear Jesus, just for today / that I may have a break from all the / confusion and fear in my life. I / pray for some peace inside from all the / turmoil and panic. I pray for forgiveness / and courage to face this dreaded disease, “Alzheimer.”'
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Alzheimer's is something that affects many of our grandparents or parents, and unfortunately, one day will probably affect many of us. Reading the poems drew me into the world of Bob's fears and faith. They have made me more aware of what many of the seniors we know and love are going through.
The first poem, “Old Man,” is written from the perspective of a little boy talking to his father. He asks who that man is that they often visit. He “looks a lot like Grampie.” “Sometimes I see his eyes are wet. Is he crying Dad? — or is he just an / Old man sitting in a chair?”
Another poem, “Please Speak to Me,” conveys the loneliness that comes from being unable to communicate because of Alzheimer's.
“I can hear you but / I may not know / what it is you are saying to me.” “But don't be afraid / to stop and talk to me anyway. . .”
In “Ten Brain Cells” Taylor reflects on the slow and heart-rending decline that threatens Alzheimer's patients. Have we any idea, he asks, how long it might take to die “ten brain cells at a time”?
With this collection of poems we experience the Alzheimer patient through the eyes of old friends and children. In the brief sections written by others we meet Taylor's wife and other family members. A grandchild asks God why such a difficult thing is happening to his grandfather.
Neither Taylor nor the other family members try to offer a complete answer to that question. But a sister to Taylor, and her husband, see meaning through the sad time her brother is going through. “It's as if God is using Bob to inform us of the plight of those inflicted with Alzheimer's.
In the last poem, “My Prayer,” Taylor expresses his own faith. ‘I pray Dear Jesus, just for today / that I may have a break from all the / confusion and fear in my life. I / pray for some peace inside from all the / turmoil and panic. I pray for forgiveness / and courage to face this dreaded disease, “Alzheimer.”'
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
