Ann

[hack]

Five daughters coalesce into a single name,
when she calls, whoever is there dutifully answers
and, shedding the identity she once gave them,
each becomes what she needs,
and they both search her failing memory
for the unadulterated condensate
of pure love.

[dafydd manton]

Had a very close friend die recently, very young, and when his dementia was at his worst, he'd greet you, ask you who you were, then repeat the same thing 20 seconds later. It's tragic, but your highlighting the unconditional love of the daughters is marvellous, and imbues such dignity to the older woman. Thanks.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Your restraint is amazing, the power of this is inversely proportionate to its length!

[angliholic]

Very touching, evocative, and thought-provoking!
Short but great!

[Bar22do]

In her dementia
five daughters coalesce into a single name,
when she calls, whoever is there dutifully answers
and, shedding the identity she once gave them,
each becomes what she needs,
as she searches her failing memory
for the unadulterated condensate
of her pure love.

This is so poignant, hack, deeply felt and understood... oh Ann, of pure, unfailing love...

When you emerge hack, even sadness is beautiful.

[Delta40]

very nicely captured Hack

[hillwalker]

Sad and yet a wonderful memory - the love that unites a family into one.

[Hawkman]

Very telling, hack. A wonderful piece.

[blank|verse]

Delicately observed and beautifully expressed, hack. This line is exceptional:

five daughters coalesce into a single name
and raises question about the nature of labelling things and people. Perhaps a philosophical musing on this could have been elaborated in a second stanza?

Ironically, my only other suggestion would be to remove the first line's direct reference to 'dementia' - I think it's adequately expressed in the line:

as she searches her failing memory
without the need to label her illness.

But your economy and concision of expression never fails to impress.

[hack]

Thank you all for your reads and comments.
Ann is my sweet mother-in-law. B/V once
again, you are right. The first line is not
necessary, and in fact, detracts from the
poem. Thank you for your kind assistance.
...peace...