January poetry day 1

To kick off our writing this first month of the new year, Maria (mgoodson.blogspot.co.uk) and I are once again giving each other random words to spark a poem into life.  I'm going to try and explore my mother's dementia through these poems.  I may find that tricky though, having looked through some of the words we have plucked from the air but it seems a good place to begin.  This one is for you, Mum.

For the kicks

Do not misjudge her or assume you know

Something still, which she chooses not to share

With you, the unknown once known mystery

Creeping soft in those new shoes on the tiles,

You knock and enter before the response

Which waits forgotten in the tepid air

And throw cheerful loudness into the hush

Of a morning spent asleep and dreaming

Of time passed but still remembered with joy

Causing that rare understood smile to bloom

Which whispers I am alive and live still.

But this door is locked tight to you and I

Have lost the key, misplaced it somewhere dark

And new brightness can shine there never more.

Once, far away, I loved life for the kicks

I clutched it, I laughed and played and was glad.