Forgetting
Old age plays several nasty pranks,
Purloining strength and youth,
Seizing sight and sound and taste
And modifying truth;
For worst of all the memory flees -
The day before is lost,
While fifty years ago is clear,
Current events are tossed
Like garbage in a refuse truck.
Confusion reigns supreme -
‘I never did, I don’t know how,
Don’t make me cry, I’ll scream.’
Forgetting is letting
The memories go,
Sensing identity
Fading, and so,
Child once more,
Your needs are
Met each day
Every way
Until
The end
Of
Time.
Janice, this poem is 'right on.' The second stanza is so sad, so true....so hard when one sees someone who had a full life lose all memories of that richness.
ReplyDeleteI love how the second stanza shortens like the aging mind.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to watch my mother-in-law's memory fade...and to think that it one day will happen to my husband and me too!
ReplyDeleteA subject close to all our hearts - sooner or later, if we're lucky enough to live that long. Your telling thoughts put it into perspective.
ReplyDeleteExcellent poem.
ReplyDeleteMy memory has been bad since my fifties so I'm not going to know when it gets worse, which is a kind of blessing.
At 84, my mom's memory has worsened considerably. She is still doing okay in life though.
An all too true description of the dementia that so often accompanies aging ..... nicely written!
ReplyDeleteI'm in my 40s & I can already tell that my memory is much worse than it used to be. Ah well, I'll just hold onto the "ignorance is bliss" idea :)
ReplyDeleteMine was about forgetting as an old age possibility, too. I like your piece a great deal. Thanks...
ReplyDeleteYour poem really hits home. So sad to watch people with such rich lives lose their memories. I fear this as well.
ReplyDeletethis is the part of aging that scares me most...losing things and not even knowing it...shivers...
ReplyDeletehttp://rinklyrimes.blogspot.com/2009/01/282-phantom-memories.html
ReplyDeleteMemory can play tricks on all of us.
Ok, a funny thing and a serious thing:
ReplyDeleteFunny thing: I didn't know about the poetry jam, but for my post today I wrote a poem, called, "I'll Remember."
Serious thing: the poem is a tribute to my Mom, who passed away on 3/31/11 from ... Alzheimer's.
Well done with your poem
This is so well done, Janice, but, unfortunately, it is all too true.
ReplyDeleteToday I couldn't remember how to unlock the grocery cart from the one in front of it.
I'm not quite 65 and already my doctor has sent me to a gerontologist half my age, to find out what's wrong with my memory.
One of the things I hate most? I can't write poetry any more. It used to be second nature to me, and it's all gone now.
Meanwhile, I enjoy yours, a lot. Keep it up. If you keep using it, maybe you'll never lose it!
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT...
ReplyDeletewe must look ahead of us...
great contribution
nice week
I was going to say something pithy but i've forgotten what it was... great poem of truth!
ReplyDeleteThat was another hard read. How much of us is memory, and when that leaves us, what is left?
ReplyDeleteGreat contrast between the verses, and great movement through them too.
Wow. The structure of your poem added perfectly to the theme of forgetting and aging. Brilliant.
ReplyDeleteEllie Garratt
That's very true, I remember things of years ago but not what I did last week ! Nice poeme !
ReplyDeleteSad, but true. I'm experienceing a little of this myself, but that last stanza describes where my mother is right now. I guess we'll all get there if we live long enough.
ReplyDeleteI do like the progression of your poem, fading away as does the memory with time.
ReplyDeleteIt is all so true but all the more reason to live each day to the fullest......even though we won't remember it in years to come. :)
incredibly touching
ReplyDeletebeautiful poem
ReplyDeleteSo clever of you. So true. So sad. (Although I have to say the fading memory of my grandmother did give us some hilariously funny moments.)
Wow! Loved how you made the second stanza kind of trickle away.
ReplyDeleteHey, I didn't know you were a good poet too!
ReplyDeleteThis is very clever indeed.
Wonderful poem and so true!
ReplyDeleteVery beautifully written. Do visit my blog and leave your footprints by posting comments
ReplyDeletehttp://parentingworkshop.blogspot.com/
http://fun-with-mails.blogspot.com/
How perfect, in both content and form. Made me smile!
ReplyDeletePearl
Great poem! Bravo!
ReplyDeleteHope you dind't forget your question in my blog;o)
Sorry for being late to answer too! I had already forgotten! He he he!
The two sad ladies represent the two French regions Alsace and Lorraine which had been lost to the Germans in the war of 1870/1871!
Many thanks for sharing your beautiful poem and also for visiting and taking the time to comment;o)
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Hope you are having a nice and happy week****
Perfectly said
ReplyDelete