The stench assaulted my nose
As I walked inside,
Adult diapers too seldom changed.
In her room she lay on her bed
Facing the wall.
Eyes open, but not really seeing.
She looked so fragile lying there,
Disheveled hair across her pillow.
"Hello Grandma Gertie,"
I called out cheerfully,
Pulling her back from the maze of
Thoughts that drifted through her mind.
She sat up on the edge of the bed,
And smiled her toothless grin.
"Hey, have you seen Mama?"
She asked, her voice filled with anger.
"I heard she was down at the courthouse
Trying to take my stuff again."
Gently I explained to her,
"Grandma Stonestreet
Died when I was nine-- remember"
Big tears squeezed from huge brown eyes,
"I knew that all my sisters were dead,
But I thought that Mama was still alive"
I hugged her tight, then brushed her hair,
Plaiting long white locks into a braid
Off her wrinkled, brown splotched face.
"I love you so much Grandma,"
I said as I held her frail body close to mine.
She smiled her toothless smile again,
"I'm glad someone still cares about this old grandma"
She glanced out the window
Not really seeing the birds fluttering outside.
Then she looked back at me,
Tilting her head,
As if she was thinking very hard,
"Say, have you seen Mama ?"