I'm participating in a 5-day "Open Write" on Sarah Donovan's Ethical ELA.
Today's writing inspiration is from Kimberly Johnson, who shares about Joe Brainard and his writing of "short anaphoristic snippets of memories, all beginning with the words, 'I Remember,' thus defining a new poetic form."
I wrote this poem after a recent conversation with my Dad, who has increasing dementia and memory loss.
Today's writing inspiration is from Kimberly Johnson, who shares about Joe Brainard and his writing of "short anaphoristic snippets of memories, all beginning with the words, 'I Remember,' thus defining a new poetic form."
I wrote this poem after a recent conversation with my Dad, who has increasing dementia and memory loss.
No Longer Yours
I remember
your words of wisdom,
“When you’re working hard, and enjoying it at the same time,
it’s wonderful, there’s no better feeling, I think.”
I remember
encouraging you to share
stories of your work.
I remember
you could not recall.
I remember
offering threads,
“you rode your bicycle to the waterfront, to check on the shipbuilding,”
“you shipped out to sea for six months, the day before Mark was born,”
“you served in Saigon, as the war drew to a close.”
I remember
the wonder in your eyes,
your gentle response,
“That’s pretty interesting, what’s going on in that head of yours.”
I remember thinking
these are no longer your memories,
yet,
yet,
somehow,
mine.
