Nine years ago I visited a rest home for patients living with Alzheimer's Disease in Stages III and IV. There are very few care facilities available to this population in the Phoenix area. I approached the activities director, and asked if I could come in once a week and lead them in creative writing. Lorraine sat down. I wanted to gather several members together in one of the cottage living rooms for a group writing session. Lorraine was surprised that I just showed up out of the blue. I had my reasons.
We talked about creative writing and how that might come together in an environment where inhibitions are low and free association and lyrical speech are readily accessible to them. She agreed and I came back the next week with pictures and prompts and an easel. Over the next several months, I asked questions and wrote down their reflections. We had a wonderful time.
Every now and again, I’m going to put up one of their poems for you all to enjoy. These writings were not compiled within the framework of any kind of poetic structure. I called them poetry because when I read the first one back to them, Nancy shouted, “A poem!” A poem indeed.
This is one of the earlier pieces. The line breaks are where thoughts ended or another individual started to speak. Fifteen residents participated in this session.
Others More Recent
Redwoods in Northern California the size of a dinning room
Reflections
Creations of God
Snow on mountain tops
Hiking for flowers during spring
It’s really good – that part of it
You can just look at it—
And that makes it almost…
Nebraska—Lincoln—the capitol where my father was born.
Eight of us picking pears along the Northern Coast
Old cactus country—Douglas, Arizona
Climbing trees all the time - when I wasn’t falling down that is (sly smile)
Swinging on ropes ascending too high, more than mama wanted.
I looked all around that place—
My most favorite thing was climbing those mountains.
Off to the woods…where we got into a lot of trouble was what we got (laugh)
My cousins and our gang, my brother and sister, and me—oh boy!
Then there was the time my father took me to see Harry Truman give a speech…now that was somethin’…
Places I’ve gone and mountains I’ve climbed, some long ago, others more recent.
