On Her Own Terms: Poems About Memory Loss and Living Life to the Fullest is a moving collection that explores what remains when memory begins to slip away. Through intimate, finely observed poems, an adult daughter bears witness to her mother's memory loss while discovering the love, humour and stubborn vitality that persist.
The poet learns to speak in maybes and half-remembered moments, allowing her mother to steer their shared stories even as details vanish. Each piece immerses the reader in the evolving dialogue between mother and daughter, capturing shifts in language, personality and power with honesty and care.
Many poems close with the mother's own words—by turns wry, poignant and sharply perceptive—revealing her enduring voice and long-held desire to write. These quotes form a kind of chorus, reminding us that identity and connection can outlast clear recollection.
Both kind and unflinching, this collection resonates with anyone who has accompanied a loved one through forgetfulness, dementia or cognitive decline. It stands as an archive of a relationship, and a testament to the ways books can hold memory when minds cannot.
Ideal for readers who:
- Are navigating a parent’s or loved one’s memory loss
- Appreciate contemporary, relationship-focused poetry
- Seek compassionate reflections on aging, care and resilience
