The second sight

Abstract

This article aims at showing poetry's potential to help us understand the inner world of a person with dementia and our own reactions and values in this encounter. The theory is inspired by works of Elliot W. Eisner and John Dewey. The discussion is made on the reading of texts by two Norwegian poets, Aase-Marie Nesse and Odveig Klyve. In addition, I refer to an empirical project in creative writing with persons with early dementia. The discussion involves learning at life's outermost and vulnerable limits, and what we as a society need to learn about our relationship with this growing group of people.