Hollow Man

Full, with no window.

Awakened by the summons

Of the moon, he wanders.

His eyes, vaguely responsive

To light fluctuations; and

He often weeps when dishes are washed.

He calls my daughter, ‘David’ or

Simply barks at her.

At midday he routinely gathers

All family photos, stacks in towers.

He interchanges tasks of the dinner table

And the bathroom, incognizant.

The cat seeks him out and

They seem to find comfort together.

We keep mittens on his hands;

For, without them, he’s prone to

Bore holes to the bone.

When outside, he’ll rush toward the maple;

Embrace it, like Mom, and cry.

On Sunday mornings we have come to expect:

A laundry basket prepared, by him,

Brimming with loose crackers, milk, cheese,

Broken eggs and cat litter.

He creates knotted chains with his shirts;

Laughs, hysterically at the sound of the vacuum;

Sings, ‘In The Garden’ whenever it rains.

 

While, for years now, I have prayed

That this is solely dormancy;

And someday, he will be full again.

I solemnly wish that I had no memories of him;

This would make my love for him less complicated

Author's Note

Copyright 2010, Fegger

Reviews

[Poeticpiers]

Dementia reduces a man to less than a man.His body lives but he no longer resides inside.

[Rory CJ Frankson]

A very in depth view of the states of mental health that the some must contend with on a daily bases and the hell it can play on family. Not unkknown some of that in our history. I found the ending very well portrayed, as it took a moment and a re-read, to really sink in. I've had people close to me gone Mad as a Hatter. Well written and a hard premise...
Write On / Right On! Romon in Review.

[KAREN]

A great write, but very sad that people have to go throug this terrible sickness! I felt the pain in this writing!!

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

You clearly had great imagery for such an aweful illness! Great write!

[ice]

Fegger
This person really has problems...I am hoping that you made him up...if not, and you are really involved with a person like this....I am sorry for your burden
Back to the poem, it flows well, with a clear messege.
The last two lines are well done, the words bring the reality of a normal person into the picture...
well done
ice