As I see you drifting ever closer

Many times in our life, nature flags its power, our inferiority and future's uncertainty. I have written this poem in remembrance one of the clients (bariatic)  in Eskleigh, Mark Cragein (13/03/1971-23/06/2023). I have worked and known him for three years and he was always a good man to work for (he had severe autism). I wrote this poem closely observing him as well as the fact that he is very close to the end of life and his struggle during the last few days of his life had stirred my heart with agony and distress.

Today I watched you make your way

Fighting…

Drifting ever closer...

watching…

Breathing was a struggle, but I knew your skin was thick.

You don’t look like the Mark Craigen we all know

Then noticed something different, but did all we could.

There is helplessness and despair in the face

Something has made you feel this way

You’re in such a disarray that you can’t get out of bed

Come on show your tantrums, freaks and meltdowns

Those words “noiee”, “noiee”  in a lovable unique way

Attention, distraction and diversion are the only prescription you needed every day

Your love of food and drink is so much fun, to watch you eat will always make me smile be it in

Your articulations of food that you love to eat —Sarrrdinnn, miiillllkkkk,weebiixxx, mandarinnn, corrrdddiiiaall, cupa teaaa, wateerrrrr will always echo your sentiments about food and have us smiling anytime.

His mum throws her heart into bamboozling him through the worst possible times in her endeavour to make him happy

Patience is a virtue and he has no desire to change

 

Strategies and technique often failed when you don’t want it done your way

Your innocence never changed your ways and your actions

What does mama say? Mama says, Quiet! is what we all prompted

Perhaps there's a reason you’re made this way

— then the approach

That was the spectacular treasure of this day.