Knockagh Monument

    I reminisced of dad today

    A scary time, for mum

    About the day he disappeared

    For just too long, THEN some.

    Was born in Carrickfergus

    Then retired to the same
    On Belfast Lough, below a hill

    He still was known by name

    A neighbouring town, ‘Greenisland’

    A few miles heading west

    Does have a wartime monument

    Atop that mountain crest.

    There is a winding roadway

    To gain admittance there,

    Just o’er four miles (or seven ‘k’)

    Dad gave himself a ‘dare’

    With onset of altzheimers,

    Though bouts were rare and short

    He took himself out for a walk,

    From his home - Fergus Court.

    He’d done so quite a few times

    Though soon after, returned

    So on this day he did the same

    So mum was not concerned.

    Now I can walk four miles an 'hour'

    Upon a surface flat

    Though with a hill and slower pace

    The time,  could triple that

    Whene'er one hour plus had passed by, 

    Mum got a bit concerned

    A worrier great, she telephoned,

    His antics I had learned.

    “I’m getting quite concerned son,

    Your dad, he’s disappeared,

    He’s not returned from his wee walk

    Something’s happened, I’m feared”

    “Okay mum,” I got in my car, 

    Told her, “I’m on my way” 

    The journey down seemed longer

    Than any other day.

    With tear filled eyes and praying hard

    I drove the eight plus miles,

    Though seemed like double distance,

    Red lights, - there seemed like piles.

    ‘rrived at their house, gave hug to mum,

    She always feared the worst

    Was asking how he had dressed up

    When door, open, did burst.

    Dad did stroll in, so nonchalant,

    Mum asked “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?”

    Then gave a long  relief filled hug,

    It was an awesome scene.

    “Walked to and from the Knockagh”

    (He thought he had done good,)

    “WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU DO THAT?” 

    “To see if I still could”