I Can't Remember

While going through some of my mom things we found my grandmother's Bible. It was filled with newspaper clippings, cards, and notes. The most significant to my sister and I were notes that we found that were written back and forth between our mother and her mother. They had an ongoing correspondence and a lot of it was in the form of little poems just to let each other know they cared. One poem, written by my grandmother, stood out to me and I wanted to share.

I can't Remember

Just a line to say I'm living

That I'm not among the dead.

Though I'm getting more forgetful,

And mixed up in the head.

I got used to my arthritis

To my dentures I'm resigned,

I can manage my bifocals

But, God I miss my mind.

For sometimes I can't remember

When I stand at the foot of the stairs,

If I must go up for something

Or have just come down from there.

And before the fridge so often

My mind is filled with doubt

Have I just put food away

Or have I come to take some out.

And there's times when it is dark

With my nightcap on my head

I don't know if I'm retiring or

Just getting out of bed.

So if it's my turn to write you

There's no need for getting sore

I may think I have written

And don't want to be a bore.

So, remember that I love you

And wish that you were near

But now it's nearly mail time

So I must say goodbye, Dear.

There I stand beside the mailbox

With a face so very red,

Instead of mailing you my letter

I had opened it instead!

By Ioda McAbee