Sunday, March 8, 2009

Party in the Nursing Home

In the great leveling
of advanced age
we are all strangers,

all friends,

at once
known

and unknown.

Long time family,
we've just met.

We share our cake
whether we know
who has come to the party

or not.

5 comments:

TACParent said...

You know, I've been there. But not with seniors. Instead I've had this experience in rehab centers after my ds's surgeries. "We" become "family" when we endure similar hardships. We find support and friendship in these times.

Linda S. Socha said...

I felt the saddest sense first reading this one...and then on rereading a liberating feeling.
I do love your work and I do appreciate it
Linda

Staying in Balance said...

TAC, I didn't think of that angle right away, but you are right. We bond with those who have gone through similar experiences.

Linda, I felt it was somewhat liberating too. We had a birthday party for my mom in her nursing home and another resident wheeled himself in the room and shared the cake with us.

Amy said...

I like the idea of sharing the cake as a metaphor for acceptance.

Staying in Balance said...

Its fascinating to me how real life occurrences can turn into metaphors.

Poems © Gemma W. Wilson