‘What remains’ by Ed Sage

What remains

              Be         fore
the dem –
entia
              sets in
              com
              pletely
I ask her
if she re-
calls
the hit               ting:

We’re
      sit               ting:
Her
              hands
                            in
                                          her
                                                            lap:

              I re-
member
the house
  having to leave
the house               I –
be – cause I could  n’t  stop
              hit
ting your sis         ter

              but she
can’t re-
   call
the wood               enspoon
   and the                gidd                yanger
and my                   thin
                                  paja       mas

as if the dem
entia
               has stole              n
that       mem
                          ory
from:
               me
                              in the nicest
way and I won ‘t
have to
               live
                      with her
apolo    gy:

I can
just                  hold                  her
hand:
              soft
and                  caress               her
skin:
              loose
knuckles        palm


          

Ed Sage is a writer, teacher, and activist from Portland, Oregon. He  lives in Portland with his wife, Kate, and their two children, Oliver  and Lillian. Ed’s poetry and nonfiction have been published in ZYZZYVA (under the name Ed Varga, Jr.), Verseweavers, The Portland Review, 4th Street Journal, The Ponder Review, Plainsongs and BULL Lit. He has been considered for a Pushcart. Can be found at edvargasage@gmail.