Aging 'Countdown' Expert (IP)

By Rhiannonw

Sat, 27 Jun 2015
  • 1828 reads
6 comments
 

Letters whizzed around his brain
and slipped in place with ease,
couldn’t conceive why others found it hard        
and their minds just seemed to freeze.
                    
Six numbers added, timesed, or then
divided and subtracted –
aiming for that given goal –
he must not be distracted.

So, regularly they made a point
to view their teatime show    
to calculate, twist letters, watch
contestants have a go.

There came a day he ceased to follow
discussion, explanation,
responding inappropriately
with much incomprehension.

One day, at dinner we discussed
something to do with ‘Countdown’;
‘What’s that?’ he asked, ‘I think it is
a word I’ve heard and known.’

But even then, for a little while
we often were astonished
short anagrams of flowers or birds
he still, with help, accomplished.

[I don’t know if people in other countries are familiar with the UK’s long-running very popular ‘Countdown’ quiz programme]

 

Certificate U
Poem
Families
Biography
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)

Comments

Submitted by Art of the Diver on

Nope... totally unfamiliar with that fact Rhiannonw... down here 'Countdown' is a chain of grocery stores... though many of us often quiz the pricing structure that they entertain us with. smiley

Enjoyed your finale here... the subtle 'training' of smart is so often missed or replaced by the sense of self, at certain ages isn't it?

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Art,
It's been such an institurion over here for so long, that it's easy to forget it's not international!

I wasn't quite sure what you meant by your last comment, but I guessed you were referring to how tied to our abilities in certain directions we can be. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by jeand on

HI Rhiannon

My daughter took me to see Countdown being filmed - about 15 years ago now - when Richard Whiteley and Carol and Susie were on the team. He was very remote and disinterested. Carol was very friendly. We watched through two shows - and several times the action was stopped so that either Carol or Susie could get a better word or answer than the time allowed. I was scandalised.

Anyway, I enjoyed reading your poem, which brought back happy memories.

Jean

Jean Day

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thank you, Jean. Interesting to hear that. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Very touching - it's awful when people start to lose so much of who they were.  The 'little while' in the last stanza makes it even more poignant. 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Airyfairy, for your comment.
Yes, he is actually fading away, in his last days now, but I remember when he was finding dementia very difficult, being pleased to find that sorting out these short anagrams for him were something that took his interest and were stimulating — for a while. Rhiannon