she smiles - edit4

[wasellajam]

Hi, duke, glad to see you working on this, it's worth it. Some notes:

she smiles
and feeling so relieved for her The addition of "for her" cleared my confusion here.
in that warm swift moment
I must cry except.
it’s gone before my tears can well
"Must cry" has always bothered me. What actually is that split second before the tears well? I think of that welling feeling as the first sign tears may come. I almost cry? I might cry? Something else.

then returning terror locks
her features tight
knowing only that she cannot
understand or put a name
to anything she sees
This strophe is nicely tightened up.

blessed smile again
alights dove-like
I want to turn away
before next fright
but can’t
I like this strophe for its "alternation," the smile returns, the N returns, it's doing its job.
I have a problem with "Blessed". Is it really blessed when it's part of the terrifying pattern. Would one state or the other be better, always oblivious or always aware so she might get used to it? I think you hit the button with the curse of alternation. Also, I have a problem with the word itself. Is it meant to be blessed or bless-ed, either way not a fan of "blessed smile" on my tongue.
"Alights dove-like" feels old-fashioned for the poem but I love that description of her smile anyway.

alternation This took me a while to get used to in this spot, too clever, and rhyming to boot. I think it would make a great title. I'm not sure if my initial hesitancy matters or not.
not damnation
since neither deserved
nor endless

edit1;

she smiles
and feeling so relieved for her
in that warm swift moment
I must cry except
it’s gone before my tears can well

then returning terror locks
her features tight
knowing only that she cannot
understand or put a name
to anything she sees

dementia fades into
waking unconsciousness
with its peaceful smile
until unfocused mindfulness–
sight without sense–
returns in fear

not damnation
since neither deserved
nor endless

original version;

she smiles
and feeling so relieved
in that warm swift moment
I must cry except
it’s gone before my tears can well

then terror strains and locks
her features back with knowing
only that she cannot understand
or put a name to anything she sees

dementia’s not damnation
for it fades
into waking unconsciousness
with its heartbreaking smile
until tension
crippled mindfulness
and fears return

not damnation
since neither deserved
nor endless

I hope this helps a bit, almost there for me. Sound editing. 

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Oh, I forgot, I missed that I want "before the next fright".