Connecting through poetry: dementia, caregiving and family
Care partner, Ravi K. Gandhi, shares his experience caring for his mother through his poetry.
Tying Shoelaces for My Mother
I stare upward and beyond thought-space at
mom’s unfolding. With each loop, memories
orbit back to all the ways she’s never once left
me feeling sundered.
Her clouded cataracts are still stars, still draw
constellations reminding me to be a better son—
to embrace love, even when love hurts.
And right there, in that fractal moment, I am
reborn. Transformed through the birth canal of
time, into a child arriving amid the crackle of
lightning and her walls torn by thunder.
How quickly a man, in an instant, turns infant.
Sprawled under a blanket of gravity from her
gaze. Eyes that act like a cradle while our
footsteps hover.
Her skies always providing a milky way to walk
together, dream, and wonder.
– r.k.gandhi
Remnants
mom can’t figure out which side of the
spoon to use, but hums along to plenty
of old hindi songs in tune and with ease.
yes, when utensils become microphones,
it can be quite difficult to eat, but joy is
all that matters now, to her and to me.
– r.k.gandhi
Fading
About the author
Ravi K. Gandhi is a Canadian-Indian poet, writer and educator, living in Ontario, Canada. His words have captivated readers’ hearts and minds around the world. His mother lives with dementia, and to Ravi, poetry is one way to share his experience as a caregiver. Whether these poems offer solace, a sense of community, or simply a feeling of not being alone, he hopes to connect with others experiencing dementia through the power of words.
