Dementia Poem by Ikkyu 444

a cranky, grating longing
for a life
who survived
once moved around
shopped
a whirring note on the horizon

no one wishes to see me
a wealthy waste of time
snapping at the sky

i am on my way
but where am i again?
in my small cradle room?
is it new york?

where has everyone gone?
and when will they return?
and where is the maid when I need her?

do i want tea?
did i just have tea?
i started to say...
i can’t hear you
this upsets me
are you leaving?
where do you live?

how come no one told me my lover died?
mon marie, you’re here
do you want something to eat?
a cookie?
have a cookie

we dribble bits of food on our shirts
that’s the measure of things
eat
eat, sleep, fade away

the file is lost
the key is lost
i cut my finger twice