Forty two years it is,
Forty two years today
Since I married my wife.
For more than half my long life
We had been married
And during that time
We loved each other
And never had a row.
We had such wondrous times
And did so many beautiful things.
Then she was struck down,
Struck down by dementia,
Such an awful disease.
For several years she got worse
And there was I
Looking after her.
We celebrated our anniversary,
Out thirty eighth year,
She was in a care home,
Barely knew who I was
But we were still together
And celebrated it
With her not knowing.
She became worse
And had to go to hospital,
And in hospital we celebrated,
Celebrated her eightieth birthday.
She knew nothing about it
And then three weeks later
She passed,
Passed into a better world.
I only have this to say
If people think they know,
Know about dementia
And have not lived twenty four hours,
Seven days a week
With someone who has it
The haven’t a fucking clue!!!