Ruth's Commentary.

I was at the Therapists office, yesterday, and happened to glance at their newsletter while I was waiting for my appointment to start. 

One of the therapists had this to say about this poem: .......is written by a woman during an early phase of her struggle with Alzheimer's. For me, it described her process as her memory and physical abilities were fading." 

I actually read the poem before I read the reason why it was posted and it just spoke to me of aging, really, as there were so many correlations between the two things. (Perhaps Alzheimer's is merely an accelerated type of aging...or perhaps, it is merely the brain aging, before the body, instead of "in-sync"?) It just really spoke to me.....and so.......I am republishing it here.

I find it takes too much hurry

An scurry to keep pace

With most of what is called

The HUMAN RACE.

And I'm eyeing the sidelines now

For some sit-down space.

Here-to-fore, competition

Really stirred my ambition and blood

(Which is now all glopped up with usage

And sluggish as mud.)

Also, the other juices that used

To keep this carcass well-oiled

And in running condition

Have long since dried up-so that 

What I used to get done in 1/2 day

Takes a week-

With strung-out muscles

And bones that creak.

Too, my mind forgets to remember and

My tongue can't find the right name

Or word, to my great shame.

From now on, it's the sidelines for me.

I'll gaze at birds and trees

And runners running

While I sit by

Reading and sunning.

Or saunter away for the view from a hill

Or have a chat with a friend

Who remembers me still

Or hold hands with Bill.

Or snuggle a grandchild

Warm and soft on my breast

Let the world race by

I've found what's best.

I fell madly in love with the way in which this poem reflects not only an awareness of limitations, but an embracing of them. It is truly Buddhist in it's simplicity and acceptance of the natural (or not so natural) process of aging. I don't know who this woman is/was, but it is my intention to honor her by publishing this so that everyone may try and attain the same easing into the aging process. 

May I be as blessed. Mona.