Sunday 1 March 2015

Theme Day - Ageing


He is in care.
30 years without running water.
30 years without a fridge.
He did not care.

He is in care.
He ate veggies, and nuts.
He drank urine, because Ghandi did.
He did not care.

He is in care.
He lived alone.
In a hovel, in the bush.
He did not care.

He is in care.
He wandered five days,
After the stroke seeped
Blood into his drug-addled left-hemisphere.
He could no longer understand.

He is in care.
He is reminded to wash.
He is reminded to change.
He is fed 3 times daily.
He cannot read.
He cannot follow television.
He is all but mute.
Now others care for him.

He ain't heavy,
He's my brother.


City Daily Photo bloggers hold a Theme Day on the 1st of each month.
Click here to see what other members have contributed for March 2015.

33 comments:

Kate said...

This portrait alone can be interpreted in many different ways, but the poem is a theme in itself.

Stefan Jansson said...

Nice poem. My mother is having a few problems now and it is not easy to cope with that.

Anonymous said...

Such a moving poem Julie ...

William Kendall said...

A moving and poignant post, Julie.

Gemma Wiseman said...

Your post is stirring...reminding us to value what we have and be aware of others' needs.

wilf said...

Beautiful portrait!

Jack said...

Some people are dealt almost impossibly difficult hands.

Rosemary said...

Beautiful poem Julie.

Cloudia said...

Thank you for sharing this deep work with us.




ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=

Lois said...

Very moving Julie, both the poem and the photo.

RedPat said...

Wow - Julie! I'm overwhelmed.

Unknown said...

wow!! a shed a tear or two

Denton said...

hugs and warm thoughts .. a very touching tribute to your brother.

Jane Hards Photography said...

The poem had my dry eyes moisten. Many years ago as a young slip of a girl, I nursed in a nursing home. I learned more about life, and more importantly living than any place or anyone since. Well chosen subject for the theme day by yourself. You cannot beat a natural portrait to convey the message.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Beautiful post Julie. Your brother, although he doesn't realize it, is very lucky to have you as his sister x

Jim said...

Terrific theme day post, Julie

paul said...

A moving post, Julie, from the heart.

Kay said...

Beautiful and deeply, deeply moving. Thank you.

Peter van den Besselaar said...

Excellent interpretation of the theme. I like it very muchg.

freefalling said...

Bloody brothers and sisters!
Makin' us love them and stuff.

Joan Elizabeth said...

Love is a precious thing.

Your portrait is so intimate and your poem reminds me of the haiku in your blog years ago when I first started following. I have been greatly rewarded from your wonderful insights over those years.

Bergson said...

a beautiful portrait

EG CameraGirl said...

I am so moved by this post, Julie! In a way it's a sad post, but in another way it's positive because you still care.

Birdman said...

Like the photo, so serious. Like your words that accompany it.

Luis Gomez said...

So beautiful Julie. Thank you.

cieldequimper said...

This is moving and beautiful.

VP said...

This is so moving...

LOLfromPasa said...

Your post is touching and so are all these thoughtful comments above.

Bob Crowe said...

What an intense story and poignant illustration. It reminds me of someone in my wife's family.

Carraol said...

Magnificent post, touching and powerful poem and image!

Joe said...

A brilliant and poignant post Julie both in the image and the prose.

Unknown said...

Julie, I knew you would come up with something wonderful. Love this post and this music came right to my mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl5vi9ir49g

Unknown said...

thanks for your comment on my ageing post I have explained a bit more :)