Charlotte Peters Rock (20th century / England)

Thousands sit awake at night
On watch for movements of the day
To hear the creaky-groany boards
The closing door - the moving chair

They estimate what actions keep
The one demented soul awake
And settle only on the loss
Of sound of movement through the wall

Or yet - exhausted - sleep in spite
Of night long wailing out of dreams
A Sisterhood - a Brotherhood
For years their ears attune the need

Which patched and pricked into their soul
Will still advance while there is life
Their life - or life of one they love
In retrospective empathy

Of times when love meant everything
They settle stunned by misery
And cope as well they're able to
Give up when nothing's making sense

To sleep in guilty nightmare's grip
To - waking - find continuance
The fact of small destructiveness
Upon a mind once clear and bright

Shows here in sorrow - loss of self
And loss of will to wash and dress
Or to ensure that meals are made
Or eaten once - not twice nor thrice

That sinks and baths are not the same
As toilet bowls - and floors left clean
Are spread in brown - the stink removes
The will to eat in those who care

Yet loss of smell in failing mind
Allows no deep concerning thought
Of gas or food gone over long
Nor any sense in life still lived

By others round about - nor need
To gather love nor willingness
For those who care - yet cannot care
In spite of all - nor take delight
In love returned - nor hopefulness
Of better times to come.

09Jan2012 CPR