Nightmare between life and death
With nothing to do he shuffled around his room
For the house was out of bounds to him
On most of the days
Not that he was banned
Just couldn’t gather the strength
And waltz everywhere like before
Looking down
Could see a catheter emerge out from his pyjamas
Where it came from where it went
He didn’t care
That or a diaper was the choice
Not his to be made
As he clutched his constant companion
The walker stiffly
Uneven knots on his knuckles stiffened
Looking paler than the mosaic of pale loose skin
Around them
Aging wouldn’t be a problem
He would think decades ago
Lying on a rocking chair
Talking gibberish with grandchildren
Maybe swallowing a few pills
Yet chill
And yet here he was
Watching himself in the mirror
A frail and an unnaturally warped figure
With a face he had difficulty in accepting
As his own
His memory usually failed when needed most
And came alive like a stuttering spout
When no one cared
And today was the day
When mist cleared for a while
To let him realise
That was he was living a nightmare
Between life and death
©️ShashikantDudhgaonkar
I always pray that I never get to this stage.
Yes. I mean it all boils down to one’s mentality. If one accepts aging and is comfortable with it then the caregivers also become relaxed and that helps in improving the overall situation.
If one doesn’t accept aging and becomes bitter about it then the caregivers to become irritated and the situation becomes worse than it is.
You’re right. I’ve seen the patient/ old people being so bitter that they make everyone’s life a misery.
A sad reality for too many. 🙏🏼