Acts of Love

From the New York Times’ “100 Small Acts of Love.” McAfee, Melonyce and Pearson, Catherine. Feb 13, 2024.

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I know she is slowly leaving,

that soon she will be gone;

until then I only hope

that I can make her remaining days

mean something—

that joys will follow until

her time is done.

I will spend whatever is left

right there at her side;

feed her gently,

wash her feet tenderly,

kiss her gingerly—

reminding her I am here;

our time together

isn’t over just yet.

An entire lifetime

is slowly drifting away,

faster than I can handle yet

slow enough to cause pain.

With crippling speed it’s disappearing—

first her mobility, then her memory

and now even her words;

all that remains

is her constant gaze—warm,

with utter recognition at

the mere sight of me.

What a life we shared,

what beauty we’ve seen,

what wonder we’ve created.

I’ll remind her each and every day,

ensuring that she knows

our love is forever constant.

And I know she is slowly leaving—

I know that.

But

we’re a pair until then.

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“Today, every day, and on Valentine’s Day, I will visit my wife of 56 years. We are separated by her dementia. I will tell her what’s been going on outside, as I spoon-feed her in her care-home hospital bed. She says ‘Thank you,” when I tell her I love her. We both know she would say more, if only she could. We have had a great life together, ever since the second grade. She is slowly leaving, I know that. But we’re a pair until then.”

     - Gene Lock, Sacramento, CA