In Remembrance of Him

in remembrance of him - a poem by me

who are you if not your memories
and if you can no longer remember
is there even a you anymore

jim and i had a standing date
for lunch or dinner every month
i would meet him at his retirement home
he, always dressed to the nines,
would welcome me at the door
and would lead me the the dining hall
we would talk and laugh
and he would tell me tales of his past

jim played the trombone
he was active in the church
he loved life
even though he was now limited
by his age and body

but his mind
active, attuned, always thinking

one day he did not meet me at the door
i went to his apartment
and i found him
surrounded by his last remaining possessions
sitting in his recliner

i said hello
but when he looked up at me
he wasn’t there
he didn’t know who i was
he didn’t know who he was

we talked for awhile
meaningless chatter
and i came back month after month
but he did not
he never returned

he was gone long before he died
he could not remember
so i do
this is in remembrance of him

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