Another Depressing Visiting Day Poem by Kelvin Rush

I'm off to the hospital to see my dad
He's on B ward second floor
He has dementia he thinks he's at home
He talks endlessly about the war

All I can do is be there for him
And offer my love and affection
I get very upset when he starts to cry
I can't give him much help or protection

I see in his eyes he's lost and alone
Unable to regain his sanity
He sits there confused scratched and bruised
Unaware of the unravelling calamity

He's fading away there's nothing more to say
Disappearing in the blink of an eye
Clinging on to hope unable to cope
A prisoner while life flashes by

Even humour disappears that once controlled the fears
All that's left is an empty fragile shell
As nature takes control to receive another soul
At least he'll be released from this hell

I look around the ward and see the same discord
Families going through the same routine
Nothing much to say another depressing visiting day
We all exchange pleasantries and vacate the scene