Sand Through My Fingers

A poem I had originally written just before my uncle passed away with Alzheimer's.

He is like sand through my fingers 

He is like smoke in my fists 

He is like wind in my hair 

He is like tears in my eyes 

Untouchable 

Unreachable 

I cannot hope to contain him 

He ages and withers 

And decays and rots 

As we watch on unable 

To cure him 

His memory fades 

Slipping and sliding 

Sifting through his fingers 

He doesn't say goodbye 

He doesn't say anything 

Not even a whisper 

The sand has blown away 

The smoke has faded 

The wind has dropped 

The tears have fallen

He is simply 

Gone

Author's Note

As I couldn't find the original, I've rewritten it 9 months, almost 10 months after his death. This was... pretty difficult to get out of my mind and to put it into words and analogies, so if it doesn't make sense? Well, death doesn't make much sense to me anyway.
This poem is a finalist in the following contests:
http://www.writerscafe.org/contests/Promote-Me%21-XI-%28Poetry%29/50813/ - Came 5th!
http://www.writerscafe.org/contests/January-Poetry%21-/50894/ - Came 6th!
Thank you if you voted for me and for all your support!

Reviews

[Moonlight]

Rhia, I think commenting on how beautiful this poem is might do injustice to your emotions....
After all, it is a personal experience to lose someone whom you dearly love. You wait for them, holding on to the tiniest hope, of them getting better... but when that hope shatters, it just breaks you apart.
I lost my grandma when i was in third grade. Didn't really understand what being dead and stuff meant....
Just saw grandpa really sad.. and dad and mom grieving. I think I can relate to the pain of those left behind, when someone dear to them dies. It's because, all you have is these memories that you have to live with... and even if you want to hear their voice just one more time... it is impossible.

[Rhia Barton]

I'm sorry about your loss, but I'm glad that the poem made you think of your grandma. Your insight made me quite emotional! Thank you for the review!

[Hebe]

Heartfelt..... I am going through a similar situation, you describe it perfectly....it is a horrible disease!

[Leo]

Wow! Nothing short than brilliant..you use words like a pilot flying a plane..excellent command of word manipulation, smooth flow of ideas..it felt like reading an entire bestselling book wrapped up in a short poem! Bravo and may he RIP!

[DaughterNature]

I can certainly sympathize with what you were feeling here, but I can't help but think that this poem doesn't do it justice. While sometimes familiar phrases seem like the right way to go, too often they're painfully cliched. Instead of sand/smoke/wind, think of other, fresh and new images that could convey the loss you're feeling.

[John Ryan]

My Grandmother has Alzheimers, it is a terrible disease, I understand where you are coming from.

[Rhia Barton]

It really is upsetting. Thank you for the review.

[TheLostMind]

Amazing. This poem has tugged at my heart strings. Simple, yet powerful. Each line is perfect, the way you have put them is fantastic. Especially,
"He is like sand through my fingers
He is like smoke in my fists
He is like wind in my hair
He is like tears in my eyes ".

I have an aunt who is suffering from Alzheimer's syndrome. So, I can totally relate to this one. A really good write.

[Rhia Barton]

Thank you very much for the review! It's incredibly hard watching a loved one's mind deteriorate over time, it's devastating. I'm glad that you appreciated the poem and could relate to it.

[Emily]

Rhia, I just found this and I don't think I've ever cried so much at a poem, I adored uncle Geoff too, the way you described his memory was so moving, watching his memory slowly deteriorate was so painful. I love you so much and I'm so proud of you, i could never ask for a nicer cousin,

-Emily

[Rhia Barton]

Oh my god, Emily... Careful, you'll start the tears again! Thank you so so much for the review T_T I love you too!

[Delmar Cooper]

Death is not the hurtful thing. Life is not the hurtful thing. Memory is not the hurtful thing. But forgetting , ah.

[Rhia Barton]

Thank you for the insightful review.

[MomzillaNC]

I saw this in the Promote Me! XI (Poetry) contest. I didn't expect to be left in tears. Such a moving write. This is so much like my own experience watching my Gran. She suffered from early senility and senile dementia (she didn't have Alzheimer's). She spent the last ten years of her life in a nursing home, losing pieces of herself until all that was left was her Jack (my grandfather). He passed away late one August, and she hurried after the follow March. It was almost a relief to see her finally go.

NOTES: I recommend increasing the font size.

[Rhia Barton]

Thank you very much for the review and I offer you my sympathies. I also agree on the last part, though I was heartbroken at their departure, my uncle had been suffering so I was glad he was resting. Additionally, I will increase the font, I realise it's a bit hard to read for some.

[MomzillaNC]

You're welcome.

The font size is so small that it's difficult to magnify enough to read; and, the poem is not long enough to prompt the browser's reader function -- at least, on my Mac.

[Rhia Barton]

I've increased the font size - is that better?

[MomzillaNC]

Much. :)

[MomzillaNC]

Congratulations on placing in the competition

[Rhia Barton]

Thank you very much!

[MomzillaNC]

yw :)

[jjwilbourne]

This is one of the hardest conditions for me. I've watched a few family members and other people (when I worked in a personal care home) live and die with this disease. I think your poem really does a good job of describing the condition analogously.

[Rhia Barton]

Thank you very much for the kind words and review. I'm sorry that you had to see those things happen.