Where did you go : my darling?

Where did you go?

You knew me once

You looked upon me with eyes of love

But now your vision is clouded

By the dark forest growing behind your eyes

What happened to your life

That lay in wait for you?

What broke your desire so utterly

All you could do was fall into

This deep abyss?

I miss you so my darling

I long for you with a grief I cannot name

But inside my imagination I will see you dancing

Freed of this earthly burden

That fell so heavily upon you like a shroud

And as long as I am alive

My loyal and loving heart

Will pray for you

And hold your memories tenderly

Inside my chest

My darling

(This poem was prompted by watching the Australian movie June Again depicting an older woman’s struggles with dementia and the influence, impact of her family. Its themes also relate to things I deal with and witness happening in my older sister’s life around personal agency, memory and family interconnections.)