The Poetry of Alzheimer's

Alzheimers, like poetry, is about words.
Letters combined into words into sentences,
Making up thoughts, and ideas and stories.

A poet searches for just the right word,
To convey meaning, experience, emotions
The essence of the things of life are told.

A person with dementia searches as well,
Through the emptiness, confusion and fear,
Trying to express the simplest of ideas.

At times the poet is can be articulate,
And often times beautifully lyrical,
But always in control of his words.

The person with dementia can be articulate
But at times cannot express himself at all
And over time the control of words escapes.