ARTS AND DEMENTIA
poetry
Found poetry consists of poetry written from existing texts. These texts are reordered, refashioned, and reframed into poetry (American Academy of Poets). In research, we reorder, refashion, and reframe excerpts from transcripts of research interviews, focus groups, and other textual data into poetry.
sHINE
Alzheimer’s? I feel alright.
Damn it.
I’m old.
Disbelief.
I thought I was too young.
Sheer panic.
How long?
Wonder.
Have I really been diagnosed properly?
Relief.
What had been bothering me had a name.
If you accept all these things
HELL
You might as well roll over and die.
Alzheimer’s is one of the better things.
Thankful
For all I have.
For every day I wake up.
Hope
I can go on a lot longer.
Take each day as it comes.
Learn
To live with it.
Do the best you can.
The sun is shining.
~By People Living with Dementia
From “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
Alzheimer’s? I feel alright.
Damn it.
I’m old.
Disbelief.
I thought I was too young.
Sheer panic.
How long?
Wonder.
Have I really been diagnosed properly?
Relief.
What had been bothering me had a name.
If you accept all these things
HELL
You might as well roll over and die.
Alzheimer’s is one of the better things.
Thankful
For all I have.
For every day I wake up.
Hope
I can go on a lot longer.
Take each day as it comes.
Learn
To live with it.
Do the best you can.
The sun is shining.
~By People Living with Dementia
From “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
Living and Fighting
You know, I think I’m slipping.
“Oh Mom, you’re just growing old.”
And all of a sudden, there is something called
ALZHEIMER’S.
“There is nothing we can do for it. Come back and see me in a year.”
…sheer panic—well how long? How long do I have?
…not so much how long to I have to live…
It’s how long am I going to be useful?
Really accept it? I don’t accept it.
Well, if you accept all these things--
Hell, you might as well roll over and die.
WE LIVE WITH IT, FIGHT WITH IT.
By People Living with Dementia
From “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
You know, I think I’m slipping.
“Oh Mom, you’re just growing old.”
And all of a sudden, there is something called
ALZHEIMER’S.
“There is nothing we can do for it. Come back and see me in a year.”
…sheer panic—well how long? How long do I have?
…not so much how long to I have to live…
It’s how long am I going to be useful?
Really accept it? I don’t accept it.
Well, if you accept all these things--
Hell, you might as well roll over and die.
WE LIVE WITH IT, FIGHT WITH IT.
By People Living with Dementia
From “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
Detour
…the beginning of a long road
that certainly makes a detour in your life.
You’re going down a road now you never expected to go down.
Alzheimer’s has become even more frightening than cancer.
At least you have a chance to beat cancer…
You don’t with Alzheimer’s.
this is not the way you thought your life,
your future, our old age was going to be.
Your world is collapsing.
By Care Partners, from “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
…the beginning of a long road
that certainly makes a detour in your life.
You’re going down a road now you never expected to go down.
Alzheimer’s has become even more frightening than cancer.
At least you have a chance to beat cancer…
You don’t with Alzheimer’s.
this is not the way you thought your life,
your future, our old age was going to be.
Your world is collapsing.
By Care Partners, from “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
redefining
The beginning of a long road
One day at a time.
Unknown.
Scary.
Shock.
Overwhelming.
Horrible.
Fear.
Dread.
Anger.
Guilt.
A detour that’s totally unknown
A rocky road.
A glimmer of hope.
Let go of fear.
A peaceful place.
So much to be thankful for.
Redefining our life.
~By Care Partners, from “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
The beginning of a long road
One day at a time.
Unknown.
Scary.
Shock.
Overwhelming.
Horrible.
Fear.
Dread.
Anger.
Guilt.
A detour that’s totally unknown
A rocky road.
A glimmer of hope.
Let go of fear.
A peaceful place.
So much to be thankful for.
Redefining our life.
~By Care Partners, from “The Dementia Experience: People and Pathways”
