How handsome, deft and strong you were in daring youth.

How clear and clever you thought and ably spoke.

You walked with grace and poise amidst all other folk;

Your person brought a sense of thoughtful, stolid truth.

But time has delivered a most unwelcome guest,

Who slowly breaks your mind and cracks the soul;

Where memories default and logic grasps a loosening hold,

As tiny plaques invade your brain for reasons barely guessed?

Blazing fires become embers and embers become ashes;

Hollow sadness and aching recall of joyful times past.

Confused look and vacant stare that linger on and last;

Fading light in gathering darkness … rare, reminiscent flashes.

Is this how it ends and how you leave?

Stricken by protracted illness, deftly mutilated, tragically broken?

For those who remember and remain there is little spoken;

But a tired, exhausted, jaded way to grieve.

Chris Dennis (December 2024)