Alzheimer's Lane

In the earlier stages of my mother's Alzheimer's, she would often laugh at herself and I would join in as "laughter is good medicine." On one such occasion, we had been for a drive in the country and as we neared mother's condo, she asked me very seriously, "Are we on Alzheimer's Lane yet?"
Realizing what she had said, she burst into laughter, but the horror of Alzheimer's is no laughing matter and later, remembering this time with mother, I wrote the following poem.

Alzheimer’s Lane

<> For some

there is a dead end path

famous for no road signs

that bestows upon its travellers

bends and twists

lined with apparitions and specters.

This perilous path

spins out of control

like a broken merry-go-round

until thrown from the ride,

confused travellers are compelled

to climb back on again,

to riddle their way

down Alzheimer’s Lane.

(c)--Christina Cowling