Alzheimer's- Kelly Cherry

The title of the poem, Alzheimer's, gave a clear indication about what this poem would be about. When talking or writing about Alzheimer's, it is rarely positive, so I knew this poem would most likely be sad. The poem is about is about a man with Alzheimer's, who has just been released from the hospital and is coming back home to his house he remembers, but his family who he does not. I find this poem interesting because of the sudden, distincitve changes you notice when reading about this man's disease. Towards the middle of the poem, it says how this man remembers his house, the walkway he built, his garage and his car. He also rememberes himself in his younger days, when he loved music. Only a couple lines later, at the end of the poem, the man struggles to remember who "this old, white-haired woman Standing here in the doorway, Welcoming him in" is (636). The speaker of this poem is the author, and the daughter of this man with Alzheimer's. Her role is to narrate the poem, and tell the ups and downs she sees her father go through when living with this disease. While reading this poem, I was reminded of my Grandma, who although doesn't have Alzheimer's, she is slowly forgetting a lot of things. Anyone can relate to this poem because almost everyone goes through a point in their life when they deal with an elderly grandparent, who seems to forget everything, even if it is something as important like their spouse. Because the poem ended with the old man not being abe to remember his wife, it left you with a sadness for the man and his family, which is what the author intended. Like "The Wedding Ring," I liked this poem beacuse of the simple language, and with that simple language the story of this man was easier understood.