Poetry for Life!
Howdy everyone! I am one of those lucky people who makes a living doing what they love. In fact, I have written a book called, “How to Make a Living as a Poet.” The joke I tell, is that they keep the book, in the fiction section of the bookstore.
The book is real though, found under mysteries; it’s a bona fide “who done it!”
My passion is poetry. My main work is performing and creating poetry with people living with dementia. The place where my work and the work of No Shame On U intersects is we both are trying to reduce stigma. My work entails changing the story of navigating dementia to include moments of joy, laughter and creativity.
In 1997 I first used poetry with people living with dementia. I was able to return 15 years later to reconnect with them. Check out the 3 minute CBS news report.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBHXcww9gWE&t=1s
Since starting the Alzheimer’s Poetry Project (APP), we have done programming in 34 states and 6 foreign countries. That's a lot of people, places and poems.
How Can We Change the Stigma of Dementia?
On the one hand, no poetry or arts program will alter the course of the disease. Yet, we know that social isolation can be as deadly for us as smoking. When a person receives a dementia diagnosis, because people are afraid of the disease, or don’t know what to say to their friend or family member, or are embarrassed, the social circle begins to shrink. We can use the arts as a communication tool and way to bring people together.
A few ways to use the arts to help change the story.
Hold a person’s hand and recite a poem with them. Say a line and have them repeat it so you perform it together. Shift between funny and poignant poems. Have fun!
Sing or dance with them. Sing their favorite songs! Polka around the kitchen.
Take a walk and notice the colors all around you. Ask them about their favorite color.
Yes- Stop and smell the roses!
Here is a 1-minute video that shows a group of people with dementia and their care partners playing “Pass the Smile,” an improvisation game. Watch for the lovely moment at the end.
This is so fun to do with family or friends. You can change it up and do any emotion. People like doing mock anger, shaking their fists and scowling, or emoting surprise, gasping and looking shocked. Be playful!
These techniques are called “Participatory Arts,” which is a fancy way of saying you perform and create together. We have found that by using this technique, engagement levels go way up!
I go into much more detail, in my book Dementia Arts: Celebrating Creativity in Elder Care, Health Professionals Press, 2014. In the book, all the lessons are the form of recipes. As with recipes, you are meant to make them your own, add your own spice, flair and touch.
When I submitted the photos for the book, by my friend, the German photographer, Michael Hagedorn, the publisher said, “These photos are so great, we have to do the book in color.”
Michael took the photo that is part of this blog post. I worked with Evadene for years and always said to her, “Evadene, Evadene, prettiest smile I've ever seen.” This would crack her up and make her smile even more.
Email me at garyglaznerpoet@gmail.com, and I will be happy to send you the poetry chapter from Dementia Arts at no cost.
Poetry operators are, as they say, “Standing by.” More info on my book and the APP can be found at:
Thanks so much for having me as a guest blogger! Please allow me to end with my poem:
We Are Forget
We are the words we have forgotten.
We are shifting and pacing.
We wrote this poem.
It’s a pretty poem.
Can you bake a cherry pie?
Never more, never more.
We have no horizon.
We don’t recall washing or eating
or what you just said.
Ask me my name.
Ask me if I have children?
You’re a pretty lady.
You have beautiful eyes.
Wash me, put me to bed clean,
hold me as I fall asleep.
Give me a kiss, brush my hair.
You are my daughter?
Light washing over us moment, moment.
You’re a handsome man.
Our hand writing is beautiful
twists and loops of letters
we can’t remember our hands.
Our ears are wishful
we can’t remember our ears.
We can speak every language,
we can’t remember our mouths.
We are porous.
We are the past.
We are forget.
Guest Blogger: Gary Glazner - Founder and Executive Director at Alzheimer's Poetry Project