Linda E. Austin’s’ Poems that come to Mind is a little treasure of short poems “for those who love someone with dementia” (subtitle).
Daughter Austin writes these short yet targeted poems about how she feels and about the different experiences she has with her mother, Yaeko Sugama Weldon, who was born in Japan in 1925 then came to the U.S. in 1958.
Most of Austin’s poems struck me as I reflected of the days I spent with my (late) father. Two that inspired me to ponder more while rereading them over several days are:
spring comes ’round again
pale memories blossoming
some lost forever
caught in the space of clouds
that will never float away
an old song
pulls a string of memory
unraveling time
Whether or not you like poetry (I don’t), these touched me.
Her other poems may capture your heart, including those she writes about her experiences with others:
I see the pages
of history in his eyes
an old Marine
he wears his cap with pride
fighting a new kind of war
Austin’s Poems that come to Mind, is a short and sweet book. Yet, don’t let its brevity fool you. Like a plate filled with fine appetizers, each line is deep with meaning for all who understand what it’s like to slowly lose a loved one to dementia.
Brenda Avadian, MA
Editor, TheCaregiversVoice monthly Newsletter and The Caregiver’s Voice Review
