He stared at us sternly br from his oval frame above the table - br a rugged, handsome man br in his early fifties br with neatly clipped moustache and cowboy hat. br br Later, at the nursing home, br they wheeled him toward us - br breath whistling through ancient lungs, br toothless mouth gaping, br eyes fixed inanely on the ceiling. br br I used not to like him. br Dogmatic and dictatorial, br bossy and bellicose - br a man too fond of boozing br and laughing at his own jokes. br br But today, when milky eyes br lit up in recognition, br and skinny hands clung- br I felt a wave of such tenderness br as I could not have imagined. br br I took him in my arms br and kissed his scrappy hair, br and felt strangely at peace in his company. br Dementia had lifted the mask br to reveal the soul smiling beneath.