A conversation betwixt Heaven and Hell within “my mind”

 

My battle of wills within the intellect doth ensue each day,

so sometimes I seek a higher point of view in clarity,

for it’s quality of magnitude so I become not passive,

and not blurred within a haze until spring doth dawn,

whence birds’ eloquent song or beauty of voice are not of choose,

for they will always both be welcomed with warm embrace, but…

thence doth start a conversation betwixt heaven and hell,

where a foray and affray within my mind doth continual dwell,

 

Compassion is mine alone to give, sayeth the heaven,                                  

Then confusion is mine to entail, comes the cry from hell,

I shall awaken the brightest of new dawns, sayeth heaven,

Then I will descend upon your setting sun, cryeth hell,

Thou can seek solace within my embrace, sayeth heaven,

Then I will lay lament on your memories past, cryeth hell,

I will give fortitude in body and mind, sayeth heaven,

Then I shall eat at the very heart and soul, cryeth hell,

I shall be at your side throughout everyday, sayeth heaven,

Then I will send ghouls in the night to disarray, cryeth hell,

I will reign over your every walking step, sayeth heaven,

Then I will rain discord on the equilibrium, cryeth hell,

I shall guide ye through the storm clouds of dismay, sayeth heaven,

Then I will send a dense shroud that darkens the way, cryeth hell,

I shall calm the harshest decibels to mind and ear, sayeth heaven,

Then I will diminish speech with fraught tears, cryeth hell,

Have no fear, for your life is in the hands of God, sayeth heaven,

Not if I have my way, comes an echoing cry from hell,

Then thou art the most cruellest demon, sayeth heaven,

For the being that fights illness surely embodies the Lord,

To this there were no more cries to be heard from hell,

Truly Alzheimer’s doth take me betwixt heaven and hell…

 

Barry November 09

 

  :   This particular poem received a lot of encouraging reviews when posted on the Alzheimer’s society ‘Talking Point website’ in the poetry section, here are just a few quotes for you to see how other people view my poetry:

 

Barry I think this poem is far too important to be overlooked as  I have thought of this poem a lot and I feel sure it will mean a lot to people that come across it over the years.
I’ve often wondered why there aren’t many responses to your poems and I really do think it is because they are so brilliant that it can be hard to know what to say.  It could be a bit like how a pauper might feel at being given riches out of the blue and not quite knowing what to do with it but at the same time knowing that it is amazing!
Your poems are the kind that remains important forever Barry – they have that quality about them.

In some ways it seems a shame that you don’t ‘know’ just how different your poems are.  I’ve always wondered whether they are a spiritual gift and that might explain why you don’t know where the ability came from?  Who knows – but it is the difference between a poem by Pam Ayres and a poem by Shakespeare.  Both have their place but one is destined to travel over the years and not everyone can understand.Sometimes when I read a poem of yours for the first time, I am left speechless (yes, me:) because there is nothing to say in response.  It seems it does not require a response.Best wishes Helen Tomlinson 

 

(I agree with Helen, Barry – I read your poem this morning & was somewhat speechless – I can honestly say how much of an impression it made…

.thank you,) Bookworm,

 

(Barry, I’m a Quaker and we sometimes use the phrases that go back a long way in the history of the Society of Friends.

There are two I use in response to your wonderful poem. One is ‘This speaks to my condition’ and the other is ‘This friend speaks my mind’)
Thank you, Shelagh,