On Aging Loss, Fractured World

Quick comprehension of road situations,
skilful control, assessing conditions,
traffic, and road signs, remembering routes,
a brain that’s alert, considers, computes.
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A kerb and a wing clipped, the centre line hugging,
even close journeys now seem so confusing,
looking at road maps, bewildering gaze –
why do they look like a puzzling maze?

Frustration and anger, unable to do
what seems half-familiar, the right role for you,
memories’ mixed-up, bad language once heard
comes out from the mouth as a sound so absurd.

Gone back into memories, – no, not delusion,
stability, comfort, when ‘now’ is confusion,
remembered routine, once a job well worth doing,
but losing the thought of just where you are going.
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A daughter, or son, a spouse or a sister –
sensitive, sad, but pausing to ponder
where the mind’s moved to, the memory connection,
make sense of what seems like irrational action.

A question repeated again, and again:
patience exhausted, incredible strain
– lateral comment may bring some relief,
for sometimes to answer just re-runs a grief.

The past seems so safe, and there’s longing for home,
but words of a future that’s perfect to come
can also be calming, encouraging hope,
and patience, so helping the troubled to cope.