Butterflies

Like butterflies in an open field, her memories flit and flutter,

And once in a while she catches one and hopes to catch another.

She sees them dancing in her head, just beyond her outstretched mind,

Sometimes she's overwhelmed by them, this disease is never kind.

Chasing what she knew through a fuzzy mental maze

Wears on her until exhaustion shows upon her face.

Soon she will discover a door to deep within

And a reunion with her memories is destined to begin.

She'll find them buried deep inside the darkness where they hide,

But the cost for knowing where they are is being locked inside.

The door to us and those she loves is closing out the light,

Trapping her in her own mind, despite her valiant fight.

We theorize and agonize over what there is to do,

We cry and beg and scream and shout and pray until we're blue,

But every day she's here she slips a little further away

Who she is tomorrow may not be her today.

Be calm, and cool, and patient, but most of all be kind,

She's lost inside a labyrinth that's lost inside her mind.

When she finds a memory that lights the sparkle in her eyes,

Make note of it, treasure it, to her it's a wonderful prize.

Imagine if you woke up tomorrow in a strange and eerie place,

With people all around wondering why you don't know their face.

Strangers you don't recognize talking like you're old friends,

And nothing you find inside your mind can help you comprehend.

A fuzzy shadow of long ago, or flash of yesterday,

They last a millisecond, and then forever go away.

A kindergarten memory flares up and then it's gone,

And if you try to follow it the search wears on and on.

It soon becomes much easier to let it pull you in,

To give up the constant struggle for a fight you cannot win.

But every time you find that hint of something you once knew,

You count that as a victory and begin the fight anew.