I remember Uncle Bert.
He had had a stroke.
His mouth was always open
Though he never spoke.
He sat on his armchair
Alongside Aunty Pat
Who did the speaking for him.
She was good at that.
He once looked a film star
A Gable or a Flynn.
He was a dashing rake,
Tall, handsome, thin.
But now he is all empty.
He follows Aunty Pat
Obedient as a dog
Or a Welcome mat.
John Malone 
This is very sad, the final image of not even a pet, but a doormat. Not speaking for himself. Gosh, makes me think of my own doormat days. Guess that’s when you know you’re reading a moving poem.
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thanks; will never forget the sad, last days of Uncle Bert š¦
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Poor Bert!
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yes, it is sad; such a fall š¦
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This is such a sad picture of the decline of a once vital man, reduced to a shell of who he once was. š
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yes, it has haunted me for years š¦
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š
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I echo eob2’s comment. Well written John and well said eob2……
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thanks Don: it is a deeply personal post
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Gosh. I wonder what was happening in his mind. So sad. š¦
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I wonder if he even realized, whether his mind was blank? you don’t see those sort of injuries these days, or are they there but just ‘hidden from view’ ?
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so terribly sad
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there’s no way to put a good spin on this one, Beth š¦
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Hi John, my heart goes out to Uncle Bert.
Life isn’t easy. I hope he enjoyed his for most of it.
xo
e
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thanks, Eden; I believe he did; he was kind to us kids š
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A very poignant tribute to your uncle.
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dashing sure!
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good rhyme made me laugh, on the other hand, the truth you spoke so clearly I observe every day around me, somewhat depressing.
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you’re right spotting that: there is a bit of macabre humor in the portrait —
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Oof. Powerful poem with that deceptively simple rhyme. I’m sorry about your Uncle Bert
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thank you; he’s passed on long now, before Aunty Pat —
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heartbreaking!
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If I had been a misfit
with Marilyn Munroe,
just like Clark Gable,
I’d no doubt
have a stroke also!
But at least there’d be
a smile on my dial as I go š š
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š good one, DAVid; and good to hear from you š
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Been busy digging up
Hollywood royalty ā ļø š
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well, that’s who he looked like, David, in his heyday š but didn’t we all looked like someone cool and dashing in our heyday? š
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Still having my heyday
Still a smile on my dial (thx David!)
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