A Turbulent Mind by Jay Artale An Alzheimer's Poetry Collection

Available on eBook: A Turbulent Life by Jay Artale

A Turbulent Mind: A Poetry Collection of a Mother’s Journey with Alzheimer’s

Amid Alzheimer’s storm are rainbow moments that lead to pots of gold and flashes of sunshine that push dark clouds away. The 39 poems in this collection were inspired by the authors experiences and interactions with her mother who is suffering from Alzheimer’s. The most useful thing those of us on the outside of this disease can do is live in the moment and embrace the moments of joy thA Turbulent Mind by Jay Artale An Alzheimer's Poetry Collectionat still pass through every day.

I have created a memorable collection of poems that scratch the surface of Alzheimer’s and make you aware of the multifaceted impact of a disease that is both cruel and unkind. I take you on a journey through denial, anger, guilt, sadness, and acceptance. But I also don’t forget one of the most important elements – moments of joy.

My wry humor is sprinkled within this collection adding the emotional highs of the roller coaster ride I take you on.

These moments of joy are something that I discovered after reading Jolene Brackey’s book “Creating Moments of Joy”, and they are the backbone of the coping mechanism I use to navigate my caregiving interactions.

By my own admission this collection is not a literary wonderland.

It’s a collection of lighthearted, but impactful, poetry that deals with a difficult topic in a unique and adventurous way – making it easy for a poetry sceptic to love.

As well as getting a glimpse of my current relationship with my mother, we’re also awarded glimpses of the mother I once knew. The woman who was strong, determined, and always pragmatic. By adding this view into their past I hope to heighten the level of emotional response you experience while eavesdropping on our current reality.

For any carers, especially daughter and sons of dementia or Altzhimer’s sufferers, this collection pulls back the covers to reveal what it is like to embark on a journey into the unknown, and how the see-saw of emotions you encounter along the way cannot be planned for or pre-empted.

Take a moment from your hectic life, and the challenges of your day, to immerse yourself in a daughter’s journey with the mother I love. My experiences are not unique. There are many other families going through the same scenarios and some much worse, but what is unique is my poetic take on my relationship, experiences, and the impact on those around me.

We hope that this book creates a moment of joy in your life, and brings you some solace and comfort while caregiving for your aging parents. Embrace your role and thank those around you who make the journey more comfortable and bearable.

Prologue

swipe through these pages
to discover a tale
of Alzheimer’s rhymes
that fully regale
an enticing life, of
loss, laugher, and pain
and my mother’s memories
that can’t be regained
it’s a daughter’s attempt
to soothe a charred soul
which burns & then smolders
beneath her new role
tread gently inside, on
this journey of hope
with a balance of words
to help you to cope

Here’s some Feedback from my Beta Readers

“Wow! Let me just say I love your book so much. Your words, analogies, metaphors, imagery and flow are definitely something I am excited for others to read. You have done such an amazing job of depicting this disease and your struggle with it as well as your mother’s. I think these poems will truly help others who are going through the same or similar situations. And for those who are not, they will feel and appreciate the emotion and vulnerability you have expressed in your writing.” Shannon

“It’s really brave of you to tackle Alzheimer’s in this way and your observations are spot on – about the humour, darkness and frustrations of dementia. Without the humour you’d run the risk of things being too heavy – the balance between “dark” and “light” felt just right to me.” Paddy

“My favorite, knickers, made me laugh out loud. I cried with the See-saw of Emotions, and That Motherly Bond was the most tender and touching.” Nancy