Cynthia, thank you. I've had the first line in my head for years but my aunty recently moved to a care home and as her dementia worsens it strikes me, whilst visiting her, and witnessing the condition of some of her fellow residents, that when and if i succumb, i don't intend to live with it while it slowly robs me of myself. The rest of the poem grew from this.

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The 'conscious act' of death - now there's a humdinger of a thought. May you be so blessed.

I totally echo M.C.'s sentiments. Rhyme and meter are refreshing.

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That's a very nice comment M.C, thank you. I wish the topic wasn't so grim but there you go...human decline is rarely joyful.

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It's always a pleasure to read the contributions
from this source. Disciplined yet wide-ranging
in vocabulary, inventive and thought-provoking
...worth anyone's time.

Comment is about THE SHUFFLING GAIT. (blog)