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TX: 05.01.09 - John Killick's Dementia Poem - I'm Here

PRESENTER: JULIAN WORRICKER
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WORRICKER
Seven hundred and fifty thousand people have it and once you're over 80 your risk of developing it is one in six. This month the first national dementia strategy for England is due to be published, its aim is to transform the lives of people with dementia and their carers and it's expected to make a number of recommendations ranging from improved quality of care in hospitals to reducing the stigma faced by people with dementia. Well this is all very close to the heart of the poet John Killick. He's spent the last 10 years talking and listening to people with dementia, helping them with their own creative writing and composing poems based on their conversations. He's just published his third book of poems and everyday this week we're going to hear extracts from it. Today he reads the first from his collection - I'm Here.

KILLICK
I'm not bad at answering questions
I don't try to be cheeky and I don't try to be smart
This is how to go
Just follow your hand round gently and see where it points to
Then follow it

I've lived here a long time
It's not what I like best
It's what I have to do
Sit and be at peace
If that's all you can do today

You'll like this
Snip, snip, snip
Picking up every little bit that's dropped from the lips
Don't be leaving it around

I very seldom put my foot in it
And I'm not kidding
You know where you are with me
I'm here

WORRICKER
John Killick reading I'm Here from his latest collection and we'll hearing more about John's experiences of working with people with dementia on Friday's programme. And we'd like to hear your experiences as well.

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