Try To Remember

You said you remembered me this time
From your chair next to the hospital bed.

I think you just said “yes” because you forgot how to say “no” in the moment you scrambled to respond to the question.

I wasn’t asking
anyways
I think we’ve all forgotten how we once were
together

Were we ever together?

A “family”

Down there, I think we were.
Do you remember?
First time, in 1998.
The beach was close, as it is from anywhere on a 14 by 21 mile island.

Everyone got to meet the baby… the American born
And I got to meet all of the family and friends you all left behind

You were a different person once we stepped foot off of that plane.
This was your home.
Who knew years down the road you’d be wheelchaired off the plane…

We walked to the beach once or twice.
Down the rocks of our favorite beach.
You all body surfed
I balled up right away

I was always the weakest one in the bunch.

Years and years I tried to hide any hint of emotion within this rough shell.

But inside I cringed when you yelled this or that.

They all left… They all got out. I couldn’t leave.
And so when I could and did, I still got guilt tripped.
But how were they supposed to know?

Do you remember?
She was married down there.
We all danced.
You got drunk.
But that wasn’t anything new for you.

The yacht club was always calm.
The water crystal clear
Cool and blue
A swim followed by a lime squash

Do you remember that?

Of course you don’t.
I wouldn’t expect you to…
It’s just
All
I have left.

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember and if you remember
then follow
follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
When no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
When dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
When love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember and if you remember
then follow
f o l l o w.

{-”Try To Remember”- as sung by Harry Belafonte}

~ by radchel on July 6, 2008.