Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Rose
By Lois Cochran of Guitar Grandma
Rose doesn’t talk any more
Really?
The last time I saw her she talked
And sang with me, smiling; even laughing
Showing her many missing teeth
But not today. Today Rose doesn’t talk any more
Says the care-taker on duty
With a finality that troubles me
Rose’s head hangs low, almost resting on her chest
Eyes half closed, seemingly disinterested
Maybe lost altogether. . . but maybe not
I touch her hand and kneel before her
Rose, don’t you want to sing today?
She can’t hear me, or won’t
We’ll sing some of your favorite songs, Rose
Her eyes close
I strum the guitar and begin to sing
Oh, Susanna, Ain’t She Sweet, My Bonnie, Just a Closer Walk
Finally, Jesus loves me, this I know. . .
Rose lifts her head and smiles at me
I love you, she says.
[INVITATION: All elders, 50 and older, are welcome to submit stories for this blog. They can be fiction, non-fiction, poetry, memoir, etc. Instructions for submitting are here.]
Posted by Ronni Bennett at 02:30 AM | Permalink | Email this post
Comments
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Lois, I read this earlier in the week on your blog. What a beautiful piece. Thank you for writing it and sharing it with us.
Posted by: Marcia Mayo | Wednesday, 24 March 2010 at 03:59 AM
Music touches elders in a way that words cannot. I played the piano in a nursing home during their lunch break and the diners would start tapping their feet or nodding their heads in time to the music. Before I played they were apathetic. It made me feel good to see the reaction that music instilled. Their smiles was my reward.
Posted by: Darlene | Wednesday, 24 March 2010 at 08:30 AM
So beautiful and right to the point. That smile and those words - so touching and rewarding!
Posted by: Mary B Summerlin | Wednesday, 24 March 2010 at 12:01 PM
Oh, Lois. Brought tears to my eyes. Yours too I imagine.
Posted by: Judy Watten | Wednesday, 24 March 2010 at 12:58 PM
My sister, whose middle name is Rose, has Alzheimers disease and barely speaks anymore. But she remembers old songs and sometimes hums them.
Posted by: Madonna Christensen | Wednesday, 24 March 2010 at 03:50 PM
Oh! I cried reading this! How touching and important and connecting music is! Thank you for posting it.
Posted by: Cile | Tuesday, 30 March 2010 at 08:53 AM