My mind has gone to Timbuktu
I’d like to meet it there
It may be buried amongst some books
In a scholarly “libraire”.
I used to know the names of towns
And fun places by the sea
But now I can’t remember where
Or what I have eaten for my tea.
I think it is still a novelty
To see you sitting here with me
Your face is strangely familiar
Your love and kindness plain to see.
You take my hand with tenderness and press it firm against your face
Somewhere my memory stirs anew and I remember your embrace.
©Alison Jean Hankinson
According to the WHO globally there are about 47 million people who have dementia, with about 9.9 million new cases each year.
This is going to be my contribution to open link night for d’Verse. With love.
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Hues of Hankinson 
Such a sad poem. My mother died of complications from Alzheimers. It was heartbreaking to watch her day after day after day…sometimes remembering, oft times not.
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Much much love to you . Xx
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A very moving poem Alison xxx
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Just like Toni my mother is getting lost in the shade of dementia… I do remember how it was before… and still it could be worse… this perspective is so heartbreaking.
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It seems to touch us all. Last year I took the school students to read and talk with people in a home in NZ, it was heartbreaking, especially the ones who were lost a long way from home. It changed my perspectives on a lot of things. There was a lovely humoured Irishman, I think this is perhaps in his voice.
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Very touching piece. Dementia, like cancer, touches every family at some point. May we all see cures for both in our lifetime
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That is so many people that are suffering from this disease…what a shame. My heart goes out to all the people who suffer from it and their family and loved ones. I like how you wrote this in the perspective of the one who has it, Alison.
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I liked your description of what it must feel like to realize one is forgetting. Perhaps the realizing that one is forgetting is most painful.
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The first two lines say it all. Such a cruel cruel disease is dementia. I love the tenderness in the taking of the hand and placing it against the face. Beautiful post about a sadness that too many face.
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Yes, it’s becoming more and more prevalent ~It can be tough to deal with our loved ones with this illness ~ This is a touching write ~
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I hope if this should be me someday I’ll be as pleasant about it as your poem. It is such a terrible place to be and to see.
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What a tender contribution it is, Alison! Loving someone with dementia can be bittersweet.
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A most touching contribution, Alison!
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Many thanks. Xx
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Very sad condition, but you have found a way of making it bearable, with a light touch of almost humour.
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It’s a terrifying prospect, forgetting loved ones. How can the mind do that? It seems inhuman.
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