Like the song, I ask where all the flowers have gone.
Where are the people that were part of my life growing up as a babe and young boy?
I know the answer; they have slipped away into a memory
I have the memories, deep memories, I should be happy.
Next the teenage years and a lot of the same people are there; but there’s new ones too.
They were priming me for the new adult life and the first loves of a teen. It was happy anxiety.
Those people and the girls have all slipped away into memories.
I have the memories, deep memories, I should be happy.
As a young man the 7 seas were going to be my home and I married a young lady to keep my house.
We had one child and finally four growing up and out of the home. They all have a spouse of their own.
Those children raised me! The wife and I drew apart and the family all slipped away into memories.
I have the memories, deep memories, I should be happy.
Aging as people do, I found a few friends; the kids were all far away and I turned to writing as an outlet.
Nothing was ever published, but that didn’t matter; the writing was for my benefit, no one else’s.
One day the Doctor told me I would soon lose my memories and after a while I would finally die.
So now I write even more of my memories, so I can remember them; so I should be happy.
© 2012 Michael Yost 2/7
We’re going deep this week over at Trifecta, where we’ve been tasked with using the third definition of ‘deep’ from the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary in a story of between 33 and 333 words.
The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! – # 87
Michael's Lair 
yes you should booguloo..
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Thanks Five loaf.
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wow! Thanks for the look inward with you. I’m glad you are sharing
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The last stanza didn’t happen, but my mother did have dementia when she passed away.
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A beautiful poem. Memories are all that we have of our past and I guess, its worth the effort to preserve each one of them.
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You’ve got to do it quick if your serious because even normal aging has a way of taking them from us.
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Aww, this is so sad and so poetic. Nicely done. It makes me want to say, you are loved and you are not alone.
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That’s very thoughtful. Thanks!
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In the end, I suppose memories are all we ever really have. I think the most devastating thing about Alzheimer’s is that many ultimately forget how to believe, so that reading their own words isn’t like a visit to the past, but is, instead, like a visit to a foreign country.
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I agree with you all the way. My mom’s disease was very slow; it took many years before she got to the point where I was a stranger or her husband from long ago.
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A great idea to document those memories.
“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December” ~James M. Barrie.
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Thanks for the visit and the beautiful quote.
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Thanks so much for sharing this with us on Trifecta. This is really pretty writing, the kind that makes your heart hurt a bit. I think you’ve given us all much to think about.
Hope to see you back for the weekend challenge.
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Thanks.
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This held me all the way through.
Sometimes memories seem like photographs. We get them out and look again. We react and respond then put them away – but they are altered. Next time we get them out they arrive charged with our earlier response.
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Thanks Harry. Gratitude accepted and given!
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live in memories, is part of many people’s lives,
decisions made, enjoy your choices.
awesome poetry.
Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Taylor.
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The refraining last line in each verse gave your story a personal touch, and I am thankful for your share.
“I have the memories, deep memories, I should be happy.”
Writing is also my outlet, away from the real life challenges. Hope you keep it up ~
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Thanks Heaven. I don’t think I’ll ever stop writing. Since we share a common reason for writing; let’s both hope for our continued success.
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booguloo,
This is a most thoughtful and effective piece of writing. An emotional journey lived through these words.
I wish you well and hope you will continue to list your many memories.
Eileen
Thank you for your visits to my Blog. Most appreciated.
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I am humbled. Thank you.
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Michael,
This piece, which I assume is autobiographical, tells so much in so few lines. Life in all its stages teaches the lessons required. You’ve hit upon some universal subjects here. A great read.
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All but the last stanza. Thanks for reading and commenting.
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Mmmm…this one really made me think, M. The repetition of that line about memories…makes ME wonder. “Should be” and “are” are often two very different things, and I believe memories are both a curse and a blessing.
I had an aunt who suffered from Alzheimer’s and the strangest thing about it was that it seemed to be more painful to OTHER people than it was to her, regarding memories. A blessing that she didn’t realize that she didn’t “know”, but a curse to those who loved her.
For what it’s worth, I’m glad you are documenting yours now…do you suppose that they would mean anything to you if you lost your memory? Do you think there would still be some sort of emotional ‘spark’ or resonance? I don’t know. Sorry if the questions are too personal, but you made me think about it. 🙂 So thank you.
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No it’s OK and thanks for all the reading and commenting this evening. With my mother there was a period where she was extremely hurt and agitated that she couldn’t remember some things, events or people. So I seen and experienced the frustration of my mother and others including myself through the various stages of the disease. Now there is a chance I could end up up like her and I would expect similar experiences and expectations. None of my half siblings experienced any problems with the disease. I’m the only child of a twice divorced married couple. (Now say that fast 3 times.)
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