Dying and Decay

By Dimensions

Through the halls of assissted living
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Settles the scent of those dying
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Elderly in their wheelchairs sit
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Awaiting loved ones never showing
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And sounds that carry just as echoes
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Mumbling, crying, yelling, moaning
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Through corridors you hear them call
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Aching breaking voices groaning
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And they stare as you pass
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Milky eyes and cataracts
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Pointing fingers bent with age
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Untold stories to the grave
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In each room upon their beds
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Open mouths and staring up
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Decaying teeth in death repose
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As a wilted drying rose
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Some do wander with dementia
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Incoherrent words repeat
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To themselves as they focus
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Upon their shuffling feet
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And this is our impending fate
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Doomed decay closer to bone
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Flesh collapsing shallowed breathing
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And facing it alone

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Published on . Filed under: "Reflective" and "Poetry"

Comments on "Dying and Decay"

On Sunday, August 27, 2017, dwells (4177) wrote:

A starkly dark portrayal of the lonely exit that awaits us all. Your observations are on-target and your scents are keenly focused on an oft neglected subject (the sense of smell). Cheers D-man! - Dan
On Saturday, September 2, 2017, Dimensions (94) wrote:

Many thanks to you Dwells.
On Thursday, July 13, 2017, Dimensions (94) wrote:

Drea, thank you for the kind words. And since you have experienced visits in these homes, if one could call such a place a home, I'm sure you can understand the atmosphere of such a lonely place...part hospital, part jail, part insane asylum. Dismal. Nobody should live their final years there.
On Monday, July 10, 2017, Drea (1388) wrote:

The way you structured this really added to the flow and overall feel of this write. I can feel these words because I'm reminded of visiting a loved one years ago when they were in an assisted living home. Good write.
On Sunday, July 9, 2017, Dimensions (94) wrote:

Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it. I visit a loved one in an assisted living home...these are my observations.
A former member wrote: A good one! keep it up
A former member wrote: Splendid and interesting.