Icarus
impression of a day with an Alzheimer's patient.20 total reviews
Comment from A. Louise Robertson
I am so in awe of the patience and grace one would need to be a caregiver to an Alzheimer's patient. Your writing style is reminiscent of some of my favorite poets in books I've had on my shelf for years. You immediately made me feel a passion for the suffering of the person who has lost their memory and sense of identity, and brought a tear of compassion to my eyes for the sufferer and the one who cares for him. The Icarus comparison is perfect here as well, but maybe should be explained in the author notes, just a suggestion, as some may miss this point.
reply by the author on 09-Jun-2020
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I am so in awe of the patience and grace one would need to be a caregiver to an Alzheimer's patient. Your writing style is reminiscent of some of my favorite poets in books I've had on my shelf for years. You immediately made me feel a passion for the suffering of the person who has lost their memory and sense of identity, and brought a tear of compassion to my eyes for the sufferer and the one who cares for him. The Icarus comparison is perfect here as well, but maybe should be explained in the author notes, just a suggestion, as some may miss this point.
Comment Written 09-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 09-Jun-2020
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Oh, Thank you so very much for this loving review! Very, very much appreciated. From other reactions I had for Icarus, I saw that the message was very well understood, as well as the meaning and role of Icarus in the poem, so maybe it is not needed to explain it further. But thank you for the thought!
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Icarus
by Marjon van Bruggen
Hello, Marjon,
Intriguing poem about Icarus and Alzheimer patients. You made a poetic connection between them. Well done my friend.
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Icarus
by Marjon van Bruggen
Hello, Marjon,
Intriguing poem about Icarus and Alzheimer patients. You made a poetic connection between them. Well done my friend.
Comment Written 03-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Gypsy, thank you very much for the review.
Comment from joycetreasures
Hello Marjon,
I you are having a great day. I love your poem title. I wasn't sure if you were referring to the mythological god, Icarus or another person. However, I truly enjoyed the read and enjoyed how the person with Alzheimer tries to get through life. It's very sad when things he like to do or say is impossible or simply hard, especially when you and look into his eyes. I love from the heart true stories. Everything in life is happy and beautiful. Thanks for sharing his struggles, more importantly, yours. Well-done poem. Artwork is nice, like the person is in a trance or dream. I wasn't bored. Happy writing:-)
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Hello Marjon,
I you are having a great day. I love your poem title. I wasn't sure if you were referring to the mythological god, Icarus or another person. However, I truly enjoyed the read and enjoyed how the person with Alzheimer tries to get through life. It's very sad when things he like to do or say is impossible or simply hard, especially when you and look into his eyes. I love from the heart true stories. Everything in life is happy and beautiful. Thanks for sharing his struggles, more importantly, yours. Well-done poem. Artwork is nice, like the person is in a trance or dream. I wasn't bored. Happy writing:-)
Comment Written 02-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 03-Jun-2020
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Thank you Joy, for the beautiful review.
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Hi Marjon,
You are welcome.
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smiles
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Smiles back at you.
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:))
Comment from Jannypan (Jan)
You did a good job with your poignant poem about your husband's disease and your struggle to help him and see him in its grips. You are not boring readers. I believe writing about it is personal and beneficial to you. So, write on. Like Icarus, your husband was fighting a battle that not much was known at the time and still more info is learned everyday. He knew what he wanted, what his dreams were, but the illness stole them from him and made him helpless in its wake. Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2020
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You did a good job with your poignant poem about your husband's disease and your struggle to help him and see him in its grips. You are not boring readers. I believe writing about it is personal and beneficial to you. So, write on. Like Icarus, your husband was fighting a battle that not much was known at the time and still more info is learned everyday. He knew what he wanted, what his dreams were, but the illness stole them from him and made him helpless in its wake. Thanks for sharing.
Respectfully, Jan
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 02-Jun-2020
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Jan, thank you very much for your kind review. Appreciated !
Comment from Suzanna Ray
Dear Marjon, not all Poetry needs to be all sweetness and light.
One half of a person's life is usually spent in dealing with the black and broken things !
you have portrayed very well the outward and visible signs of a soul tormented by some neurological disfunction so beautifully captured in the words " his arms are broken from clutching clouds." This poem is a keeper.
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Dear Marjon, not all Poetry needs to be all sweetness and light.
One half of a person's life is usually spent in dealing with the black and broken things !
you have portrayed very well the outward and visible signs of a soul tormented by some neurological disfunction so beautifully captured in the words " his arms are broken from clutching clouds." This poem is a keeper.
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Thank you so very much for your review, Suzanna
Comment from estory
Another superb job. I really liked this contemporary take on the Icarus story. You created that wonderful sense of striving "His arms are broken from clutching clouds" we have that impossible dream kind of feel. "He tried to find the limits, the center of space, and under some unknown fiery eye, his wings cracked and melted." we get that moment of hubris, of man reaching out for the gods and the gods setting him back in his place. "He will never give his name to the abyss, his tomb." loved that ending. We have that sense of rising above the forgotten and the unattainable, the failure. In striving, we move passed failure. The effort is the most important thing. wonderful poem. estory
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Another superb job. I really liked this contemporary take on the Icarus story. You created that wonderful sense of striving "His arms are broken from clutching clouds" we have that impossible dream kind of feel. "He tried to find the limits, the center of space, and under some unknown fiery eye, his wings cracked and melted." we get that moment of hubris, of man reaching out for the gods and the gods setting him back in his place. "He will never give his name to the abyss, his tomb." loved that ending. We have that sense of rising above the forgotten and the unattainable, the failure. In striving, we move passed failure. The effort is the most important thing. wonderful poem. estory
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Thank you very much, really, very much also for the six stars, they mean so much to me. It strengthens my self-esteem and I see in those stars that my poems are considered good and valued.
Comment from phill doran
Hello Marjon
A poem is never completed, it is only ever abandoned and I am pleased to see that you return and revise your pieces. So many people do not, but I come back to some several years later and find that a see something newer, or better or more exact.
I enjoyed reading this piece. The reference to Icarus is a surprising one (given that he was full of youth and strength) but it works very well here - it adds to the impression, and you have used the word wisely as I see this as a broad-strokes impressionist piece. The key points are here, and the reader can shade in the rest.
There are some lovely turns of phrase;
"...His arms are broken / from clutching clouds...." being an excellent example.
I wish you well with your continued writing.
cheers
phill
I am uncertain of the last line and the reference to the abyss as Icarus gave his name to the Icarian Sea. I apologize if I have missed your point
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Hello Marjon
A poem is never completed, it is only ever abandoned and I am pleased to see that you return and revise your pieces. So many people do not, but I come back to some several years later and find that a see something newer, or better or more exact.
I enjoyed reading this piece. The reference to Icarus is a surprising one (given that he was full of youth and strength) but it works very well here - it adds to the impression, and you have used the word wisely as I see this as a broad-strokes impressionist piece. The key points are here, and the reader can shade in the rest.
There are some lovely turns of phrase;
"...His arms are broken / from clutching clouds...." being an excellent example.
I wish you well with your continued writing.
cheers
phill
I am uncertain of the last line and the reference to the abyss as Icarus gave his name to the Icarian Sea. I apologize if I have missed your point
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Phil, thank you very much for your excellent review. I am very happy with that.
I recognize that the last lines (added yesterday to the original) were rather cryptic. Maybe I remove them again.
My husband was so very bad in the end, that he didn't know his own name anymore. I referred to that, but it is unclear.
Comment from dragonpoet
This poem uses Greek mythology well as a metaphor for trying to find memories and flying free of the mind's fetters with Alzheiemer's.
Keep writing and stay healthy
dragonpoet
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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This poem uses Greek mythology well as a metaphor for trying to find memories and flying free of the mind's fetters with Alzheiemer's.
Keep writing and stay healthy
dragonpoet
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Thank you for the review, dragonpoet! Very much appreciated.
Grrek and Roman mythology are life-long good friends of mine. I use quite often metaphors based on mythological events or gods or half-gods.
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You're welcome. Marjon. I love mythology too.
Joan
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Then you understand me, I think. Thanks for answering me, Joan.
Comment from Bill Pinder
I like this poem that is very well written and expresses the creative idea of comparing an Alzheimer's victim to the image of Icarus drawing near to the sun. I think you meant to say "lost, burnt-out eyes."
Bill
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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I like this poem that is very well written and expresses the creative idea of comparing an Alzheimer's victim to the image of Icarus drawing near to the sun. I think you meant to say "lost, burnt-out eyes."
Bill
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Bill, thank you for the review. And that is exactly what I meant. I'll look into it right away.
Comment from Sandra du Plessis
A very well-written poem about a memorable experience for you about the condition of an Alzheimer patient that is heartbreaking to see when we know a person while he was vibrant and healthy.
Typo
Lost, burnt-our(burnt-out)
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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A very well-written poem about a memorable experience for you about the condition of an Alzheimer patient that is heartbreaking to see when we know a person while he was vibrant and healthy.
Typo
Lost, burnt-our(burnt-out)
Comment Written 01-Jun-2020
reply by the author on 01-Jun-2020
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Thank you, Sandra for the review. I'll rectify now.
