Alzheimer's related: by Dane Baker © 2017

We were losing you a while ago

When things would slip your mind.

But then you’d come right back again,

Only momentarily unkind.

We found you remembered the old times

When you were only young,

Your memories of childhood joys

And all the songs you’d sung.

But when you did not know us

Yet knew you liked us still,

We felt then that we’d lost you -

Though nothing else was ill.

So over all this time now

We’ve had some days to cry

But remembered all the good times,

And only now we say “Good Bye”.

Missing you already: by Dane Baker © 2017

Mid-life became a crisis

But we expected life to come.

Your hair colour hadn’t changed

And neither yet had home.

You were brave all through your life,

You were courageous on our behalf.

We’ll be empty without you,

You were our oaken staff.

We don’t have words enough to say

So our tears will have to do.

You always thought of us,

And your actions pulled us through.

Pictures of you now make us smile

Your history is ours to share;

Your likeness will not leave our mind

Your touch, your love, your care.

We’re missing you already

And each of us must try

To say how much we loved you

We don’t want to say goodbye.

I haven’t left by choice by Dane Baker © 2017

I haven’t left by choice

Though I knew this day would come,

I wouldn’t choose to lose your voice

But you know I must go home.

I’d be sad to see your tears

So family and friends have come,

I’ve given all my love

And trust you to their arms.

There’s always a way through

For family and friends too,

Keep sharing our love, and trust

I’m at peace with you.

For those we know were taken too young, too soon.      © Dane Baker 2017

For those we know were taken too young, too soon

We wonder “what if?” because we have seen what they did.

We saw his skills at work, what he made and achieved:

We were amazed by what his mind conceived and his hands produced.

We felt his love at home, as father, and husband; [son and friend]

We know the family that he raised, provided for, housed and fed.

OR [he was the child we raised...

We feel life cut short because we wanted more:

More brotherly help, more sporting fun,

More holidays, more wisdom, more words, more moments.

More shared choices, more of his humour, his voice.

For those we know were taken too young, too soon

We yield our hold, but hold him dear.

We remember the good, then feel him near.

For those we may feel were taken too young, too soon. (For a female ) © By Dane Baker

For those we may feel were taken too young, too soon

We wonder “what if?” because we have seen what they did.

We saw her skills at work, what she made and achieved:

We were amazed by what her mind conceived and her hands produced.

We felt her love at home, as mother, and partner; sister and friend.

We know the family that she raised, provided for, housed and fed.

OR [she was the child we raised...

We may feel life cut short because we wanted more:

More motherly help, more sporting fun,

More holidays, more wisdom, more words, more moments.

More shared choices, more of her humour, her voice.

For those we may feel were taken too young, too soon

We may not know her own desire, and so

We yield our hold, but hold her dear.

We remember the good, then feel her near.