Rules For Visitors (Poetry)

Consider carefully — is this the man?
look closely take your time
you haven’t seen him in a while and people change
so don’t expect too much
life’s not been kind
he’s not the man he was
now he struggles with the simplest things
forgetting names and faces
what day it is — what year
show no surprise
just smile and know it’s all that’s left
of what once was a fully-working mind

Don’t be alarmed
disease wears a disguise
but he’s in there somewhere
moulded to a mask
he never would have fashioned for himself
so understand
his world is not the same
and memory is a random place
thought’s train rarely stops at
the old schedules are too scrambled now
the signal box seldom manned

Do the best you can
to stay cheerful and act normally
don’t be fazed when he fails
to recognise or seem pleased to see you
he may not have the words
but be sure
he’s glad and grateful that you came

You need not stay long
one-sided conversations being something of a strain
but (if you can bear the trial of it)
please come back again
so very few of his old friends
still visit