I knew it would come to this.

The end was always in sight.

My mind tried to steal a kiss,

But try as hard as I might,

My memory was amiss.

My days blur into the nights.

Confusion steals me away;

Resistance makes me more weak.

When a short and simple day

Seems more and more like a week.

I chase my memories for

Familiar things to seek.

Dementia has wrecked my life,

And seems to wreck others’ too.

I don’t remember my wife,

Today I forgot to chew.

Every day is new-found strife,

But I still have good days too.

Right now I remember her.

In two hours I will not.

When I heard there was no cure,

My mind was heavy with thought.

I thought about what we were,

And I’ve said goodbye a lot.

Goodbye to my other half;

You’re better than my right arm.

You always could make me laugh,

And now you keep me from harm.

You speak up on my behalf,

While I still admire your charm.

My memories keep failing;

Somedays all we do is cry.

Last week I heard you wailing;

You kept on asking God “Why?”

I will just keep exhaling

My never ending “Goodbye.”