This is by a patient of mine with early late stage dementia, who was a poet for most of her life. Her new poems are dictated to me during writing workshops I run at my hospice job. She hadn't written since her diagnosis. This is one of seventeen poems I've written with her so far.
posted with permission from herself and her family.
She died early this morning.
I’ve been doing poetry since I could write but I do think she was my only teacher.
Working with her was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I mean it when I say you all are so lucky to get even this glimpse at the majesty of her work.
In her words from another poem (not posted):
I am not the only creature watching
All of this,
Drinking it in.
I have a companion,
The cat who sleeps in the backyard
Is watching, too,
And there is so much to be.
