By the Time He Gets to Phoenix

by Greg Asimakoupoulos

Posted: September 4, 2011

Glen Campbell's memory is no longer gentle on his mind…

By the time he gets to Phoenix on his tour,
Glen will not recall the places he has been.
But his fingers still will fly across his Gibson
as he with pride displays his boyish grin.

That's the way it is with those who have dementia
what they learned as kids they still remember well.
Short-term memory leaves them like a cheating lover
and their empty stares become a living hell.

Now the rivers of his mem'ry are diverted
by forgotten words and bonds he once could rhyme.
He's shackled by the Alzheimer's that haunts him
and keeps what once was gentle from his mind.
Won't you pray for Glen? He's been like a friend.

* The above lyrics can be sung to the tune of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix."

** http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/music-legend-glen-campbell-reveals-alzheimers/story?id=13906837

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Greg Asimakoupoulos (pronounced AWESOME-uh-COPE-uh-less) is an ordained minister, published author and chaplain to a retirement community in the Pacfic Northwest. Greg maintains a blog called Rhymes and Reasons, which he graciously provides to SeniorLifestyle.

Greg's writings have now been assembled in book form. See the SeniorLifestyle Store.

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Posted: September 4, 2011 Accessed 139 times

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Well said...

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been.

Mark Twain