Old Age

 

Old Age

 

“I’m waiting to die” she said

 

“Suic…” my dad had said 2 years earlier

He barely verbal

 

Both Dementia

 

Same day, same room, no visitors

 

“Have you seen her?”

“No”

“Has she rejected you?”

“Yes”

 

One gets visitors when one can PERFORM

And the visitor can avoid silences ('awkward'(?))

But when one can’t perform

The visitors all vanish

(so much for loyalty or soul mates)

 

What are we so frightened of?

Unable to look dying in the face

 

We’re all going there

 

& when the visitors drop off

& there’s no life around

 

& you can’t get out & about

It’ll be

“Are you bored?”

“Yes”

 

Despair unto death

 

My dad a hunger strike

 

She’s stopped taking her pills

 

The carers get frustrated & there's showdowns

 

But sometimes dying is one's last hope.

"Why don't we go to the art gallery tomorrow?

Would you like that?"

"Yes"

 

 

Published & Copyright Malachi Doyle 2024.