Early morning...
Pulling away the curtains
I let the sun stream in
"Good Morning" I say cheerfully
"Morning" Replies Mom drowsily
"Happy Birthday"
She repeats after me "Happy Birthday"
I ask her, "Whose Birthday it is , Maa?"
"Don't know..." She says dreamily
"Yours", I croon into her ears softly
In the evening...
Sister brings the cake
"Happy Birthday Maa"
Creamed on it
We make her sit on the bed
and tell her to cut it
She tries to wound her gnarled fingers
Round the plastic knife but fails
We hold her hand and knife out a piece
Singing "Happy Long Life To You..."
She looks around with wide vacant eyes and
Repeats "Appy Long Life..."
Her lids droop....we place her head gently
on the pillow....she snores softly
In the Hall...
We all gather
With a piece of cake in hand
We celebrate her wrinkled memory
Her fading smile
Her half knowing glances
Her garbled song
And pretend to be merry
A bit musty though...
My mother is a Dementia patient since 2016
This poem is shared with Poets and Storytellers United
