Just a Little Visit

A little poem I wrote last year after visiting mum. Since last year Mum fell ill and was in hospital for 7 months. Rather miraculously she came out of hospital and is currently staying in a care home in Eastbourne. She is very well cared for and my sister visits as much as she can. During my visit this year I was better prepared and pleasantly surprised that Mum could recognize me at times before the mist descended back over her and we lost her to periods of silence. My daughter worked wonders too, singing songs to her Nanny that Nanny would remember - Baa, baa Black sheep and twinkle, twinkle would bring smiles, claps and connection. As sad as the situation is for everyone I class this as a good visit. Mum is very thin, very tired and very lost right now. The home staff are worried about her health as are we all, but to hear my Mum suddenly perk up and say "I know that laugh" from across the room and to look right into my eyes and say in the Mum voice I know "Hello You!" will forever stay with me. I do not know how this journey is going to go right now - I don't think we ever do - nothing is as tidy as the films and tv shows pretend, but at the moment we just take the days as they come.


A lady
takes a seat
near me
what a
chatty thing.
I wonder what
she wants
from me?
Just to talk
it seems.
My, my
a lot of questions
the young ones
have these days.
Such urgency
and nervousness,
emotional
so strange.
What’s that dear?
I must not
have heard,
pictures
little ones.
What dear
little people,
her people
I presume.
How sweet
she is to visit,
a lady
stuck
at home.
Funny
she keeps
saying,
saying
that word
Mum.

C.Storie 2015