Day 632 of the daily poems, and the music today is the music of the waltz. But it’s a special waltz, and our poet Chrys Salt evokes the music of long-buried memories that come swirling to the surface in the one two three Alzheimer Waltz / waltz of forgetfulness / danced in a wilderness / caught between / somewhere and been there before …
Waltz time
they’re doing the Alzheimer Waltz
the one two three Alzheimer Waltz
the tune is an oldie
beyond all recall
but they pivot and twirl
on a sixpence of dreams
his suit double breasted
her stockings with seams
all sense disconnected
unplugged from the wall
they’re doing the Alzheimer Waltz
waltz of forgetfulness
danced in a wilderness
caught between
somewhere and been there before
they know all the steps
but can’t think what they’re for
in the
one two three
Alzheimer Waltz
they’re doing the Alzheimer Waltz
the one two three Alzheimer Waltz
on snub slippered feet
that forget they remember
the dance tunes of spring-time
in dying December
they shimmy and swirl
light fantastic unerring
a dashing young soldier
a slip of a girl
in the
one two three
Alzheimer Waltz
waltz of forgetfulness
danced in a wilderness
caught between
somewhere and been there before
they know all the steps
but can’t think what they’re for
in the one two three Alzheimer Waltz
they’re doing The Alzheimer Waltz.
the one two three Alzheimer Waltz
and the lights on the tree
are as bright as the light
in the eyes of the dancers
who take to the floor
in the one two three
one two three
one two three
one two three
one two three Alzheimer Waltz
Chrys Salt
much anthologised