Come Back

This poem is about my grandfather's struggle with Alzheimer's.

Smart and witty he once was
It’s amazing what old age can do
No longer does he tell me how proud he is
But only “who are you?”

He won’t come out of the house anymore
How terrible must be his fears
Sitting there in his own little world
Without his wife of fifty three years

I can see the tears in my mother’s eyes
When he refuses her guiding touch
The mumblings don’t make any sense
His humor is missed so much

It's as if he had already died
With just his shell in place
Through his eyes there's a speck of life
But soon, there will be no trace

Why, oh why did this happen to him
His mind is completely off track
I wish I could help, but I know I can’t
Oh grandfather, please come back