A DISTANT MEMORY--award winner

A DISTANT MEMORY


There was a time when each moment,
That I lived, I lived but for you.
You were in my thoughts all the time,
Your pictures constantly I drew.

There came a day when you did come,
Never to go, into my life.
I was on the top of the world,
When you chose to become my wife.

There did occur times after that,
That were quite a bit turbulent.
We had moments sweet like honey,
And those, bitter and virulent.

There was but destined a moment
For which I had never bargained.
You were confined to bed till death
After the illness you sustained.

I find myself after ten years
Rather shaken and all alone.
My hair is white, my cheeks are pale,
My limbs shake and their strength is gone.

I hear voices, I have visions,
I sometimes can’t recall my name.
Playing cards, I keep forgetting,
Just what are the rules of the game.

But still, my love, I remember
That you were once my life’s glory.
Of those glorious days I have
Quite clear, though distant, memory.



* Written in abcb, 8-8-8-8 format.
* Awarded first place in A Broken Heart Poetry Contest, "Invalid Item" , organised by stacylynn71, 11th round, July 2008.
* Initially written as entry 472549 in the book POEMS ABOUT AGEING, "POEMS ABOUT AGEING" . Posted as static item on 17 April 2008.


M C Gupta
2 December 2006