This poem is dedicated to the Bryant’s: Stu, Moe, Katy, and Jessica. Their struggle with frontotemporal dementia was featured in this LA Times article by Thomas Curwen.
the promise of you is in that shirt waving to us empty in the doorway long sleeves clean cotton fresh press mom may still iron and hang to smooth our transition without you a perfect sail flapping in the doorway beckoning us to find you again
you push the dog with one foot as he grumbles from ottoman empire
mercy to friends who no longer visit
a man named Stu
the dad who looks the same
driving a golf cart, reading the paper, or watching TV
even the security camera sees you
stealing without intent
the invader in your mind
frontotemporal dementia
now we must defend you
tree, ball, flag
the same three words a doctor asks you to repeat
within minutes
you cannot recall the unicorn
or why you love mom
and then we see you the recognition our photo on the mantle Moe, Katie, and Jessica he would tell you if he could how much he wants to stay