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Three poems about dementia for World Poetry Day
Three people affected by dementia wrote about their experiences with dementia for World Poetry Day. Read their dementia poems and more.
Writing a poem about how you or a loved one has been affected by dementia can offer relief for both writer and reader. It can also provide a powerful insight into what dementia means for those living with it every day.
For World Poetry Day, we had three poems from people affected by dementia, which we're featuring here. Despite their experiences being very different, each poet chose to share their work in the hope it might help others in a similar situation.
A big thank you to our three writers.
A Poem About My Wife
Phil’s wife, Beverly (pictured above with Phil) was diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2013 and was placed in residential care two years later. Cared for brilliantly, she remains happy and contented. Phil's poem is a powerful account of how dementia has changed both their lives.
A Poem About My Wife, by Phil Sharman
Where have you gone?
Why did you leave?
You could not tell me
I watched you leaving
In your mind always with me
In my mind you slipping away
Little things
Forgotten skills
Confusing words
Once you dressed yourself
Used a knife and a fork
Then dignity slipped away
Once we slept together
Then you slept by day
And I worried by night
You Walked into town alone
Enjoying your independence
But friends found you and returned you
We planned to tour the world
Each able to play our part
Now those dreams are gone
Others your family now
Many share your condition
Some care for you as I wish I could
When I visit Your face lights up
But words do not come
Your eyes ask how I am
Your touch compassionate
Your lips still passionate
We sit together
Words from me
Smiles from you
Cruel dementia
Stealing your memories
But leaving mine
---
When My Grandad Had Dementia
Aged 13 years, Katelan wanted to express how she felt after her Grandad, Robin Sayers, died of Alzheimer’s disease. And so she decided to write a poem about her feelings. Here we share her brilliant work.
Katelan, at the front left, with her mum, dad and two sisters, Kira and Madison.
When My Grandad Had Dementia, by Katelan Carter
It was a hard time in our lives,
When my Grandad had dementia.
He found things hard and would suffer,
So my Nan was like a carer.
He used to mix me and my sister up,
When my Grandad had dementia.
Bonnie was his favourite pup,
And she used to nap with him on the sofa.
His step were slow, stiff and heavy,
When my Grandad had dementia.
But then one night we got a call,
About his terrible fall.
Mum went to see him hospital,
When my Grandad had dementia.
I tried to see the light of the tunnel,
Playing on the swings at the park.
One day at school snow started to fall,
When my Grandad had dementia.
In my heart I knew it was a sign.
I wondered whether everything was fine.
After school I got told the news,
And instantly my heart broke and bruised.
He wasn’t coming home.
Instead heaven he went.
When my Grandad died with dementia.
---
I Talked to a Lady
Tanya is the full-time carer for her mother who is living with dementia.
In this moving poem, she describes some of the challenges - and joys - of talking to her mother.
Tanya, who cares for her mother who has dementia.
I Talked to a Lady, by Tanya Howden
I talked to a lady yesterday
She didn’t know my name
She was amazed to hear about my past
and the places I had been
Her daughter’s life so similar
filled her with awe and fear
She looked at me bewildered
could this really be real?
We talked about her family
We talked about her past
We talked about the folk she’d known
Their walk their talk their cheer
The ones who floated through her world
And those who stopped to share
We talked about the future
her hopes her dreams her fears
We talked about her sorrows
All the sadness life threw in
We talked about her children –
(Some things I shouldn’t hear!)
We giggled and cried and laughed
at a life so rich so full
And in a moment shared
sat in silence with our thoughts …
And I whispered “Goodnight Mother”
as her eyes succumbed to dreams
I talked to a lady today
She didn’t know my name
She was amazed to hear about my past
and the places I had been
Her daughter’s life so similar
filled her with awe and fear
She looked at me bewildered
—
claire atkinson
saysI have just sat and wrote this, my dad's first home he was in did not give the best care...my brother and I moved him to another home, I look back and it breaks my heart, we raised money for his funeral to dementia care. I am a nurse and involve myself greatly to those who come to my unit with dementia, I,m not great a poetry but wanted to remember my dad as a strong man, my brother was amazing support but the stress to families is so much, dementia care helped me when I needed to talk, your site, thank you. I lost my brother sadly after my dad, my brother was my rock...I ve wrote this as I find it helped, not everyone out there demonstrates kindness and can treat those with dementia with so much disrespect, I will continue to support your site, thank you Claire.
DEMENTIA, my father and those that do not understand it when they care.
1. Dad
2. Carer in the nursing home.
1. I watched as he used his strength to build the fence around our garden,
2.The sounds these people make and can’t even say pardon.
1.Smiling and laughing, his eyes so bright
2.She slammed down his coffee, he stared at her with fright
1.He stood, he walked, he was so strong
2.He’s slamming his drink on the table, what’s wrong, what’s wrong
1.The sun was shining outside, a lovely day
2.Look, what is it, be quick what are you trying to say.
1.The birds were singing and as children we played
2.He looked so unhappy, so dismayed
1.The grass was cut the flowers were growing
2.He looked around, unfamiliar surroundings, not knowing
1.A cup of tea he made himself
2.He’s just getting worse, he has no health
1.He dressed himself and looked so smart
2.Looking at him, it breaks my heart
1.Off to work he would go a good job he had
2.Can’t you at least smile; you always look sad
1.A strong man who provided for us
2.All he wants is attention and fuss
1.Intelligent and alert and so proud a man
2.He quivered, his eyes wide as frightened as a little lamb
1.His laugh his smile he always was strong
2.He slops, he spills, won’t be long hopefully until he is gone
1.He died soon after with my brother and I there
1.My beautiful father, with demetia, it was so unfair
2.Dear dad I tried for people to treat you right
1.But they were blind, did not see you suffering and preferred to hide you out of sight
2.To me even now I wish I had been more aware
1.I only wish now I’d got you better care.
R Jackson
saysSuch touching poems bringing back memories of the Mum I lost just 6 months ago. I miss the Mum who loved and cared for me for 40+ years as much as the person who became “ Mum “ in name only, when the roles reversed. Through all the sadness ( and indeed much hilarity and madness ) we shared many funfilled days in her latter months .... and I cherish every precious day that I have the privilege of remembering. Such a cruel, cruel disease ....
Lorretta
saysThank you for sharing, all the poems help everyone realise it’s not just the person who is touched by the disease . Those who love and care for people living with dementia are faced with the different challenges the disease brings. Family , friends and carers are so important and are doing an amazing thing caring for their loved one with dementia.
Kath
saysHi. Lynn
They don't tell you what comes next, they say everyone is different, they don't give us a clue, you just have to wait and deal with it, just left to get on with it, or put them in a home. Don't get much help ar all, living with my friend for a year now, got drooling not swallowing agitated already on psychotics, they say desease getting worse, then another, 3months go by, then you have to shout to get something done.
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Kath, it sounds like you're having a difficult time at the moment. Please do call our National Helpline team on 0300 222 1122 if you want to talk to a member of the team and get any dementia information or advice. All the best.
Jean Bradshaw
saysTanya's poem touched me deeply I understood her feelings so well. My mother suffered from dementia and the poem so closely expressed the relationship I had with her during her latter years. I was reduced to tears, forgotten feelings returned even after 20 years. You never forget a loved-one lost to dementia.
Lynn Thomson
saysMy mum was diagnosed last year what a difference a year has made she no longer phones me we used to talk at least twice a day and she no longer chatting like she used to she's so quiet I miss the old mum and dread what comes next have this knot inside me all the time now
Alzheimer's Society
saysHi Lynn, we're so sorry to hear you're having a difficult time at the moment. Please do call our National Helpline team on 0300 222 1122 if you want any dementia information, guidance or advice. Alternatively, you might like to talk to other people affected by dementia in our online community, Talking Point. More about this here: alzheimers.org.uk/talkingpoint We hope this helps. All the best to you and your family.
Faye
saysThanks, for the wonderful poems each person shared concerning their love one with dementia. My mother also was diagnosed with dementia and I was her caregiver. I watched some parts of her slip away while other parts of her was still with me. It's been a year and five months since mom departure to heaven. Once again thanks, for sharing.
Faye
Axela Training
saysLovely poems from 3 different perspectives
Alwyn Peel
saysWonderful poems bring back so many memories of my late wife. What a cruel disease.