Her vacant gaze cannot conceal
The fear that lives inside!
She can’t escape her tortured mind
And there’s nowhere she can hide!

She can’t remember who he is
And she can’t recall her life.
But now and then confusion abates
And she knows she is his wife.

The stranger that never leaves her side
Whispers tender words of love.
That she’d recall her life with him
He prays to God above!

The way he holds her shaky hands
And tenderly strokes her hair,
She sees the tears well in his eyes
And she knows the stranger cares.

In her face he sees the woman he loves
And he cannot let her go!
The pain of indifference is killing him
But he’ll never let it show.

Dementia is stealing her away
After sixty years his bride!
He’s known the sting of grief and loss
But losing her he can’t abide!

Tomorrow, or maybe the next day
He knows she’ll breathe her last!
But for now, he’s her gentle stranger
And he’s all that’s left of her past!

© Annabel Sheila