THE MUSEUM OF THE MIND

"Has anyone seen
my memories..?"

she'd ask in a faded voice
worn about the edges.

"I've lost all of
1963!"

As if 1963 were
something one could lose

down the back of the sofa
or leave out on the rain.

We all knew her
memories-off-by-heart

and so could always
replace them if she lost them.

We were her prompters
she the great actress

floating across whatever stage
of her life she chose to be.

We'd drip feed her
a word or two here and there

and she'd be off...lost
somewhere in 1963

as if it were a place
one could be at will

if one wanted to be
a cut price holiday destination

she a tourist
of herself.

"Did I ever tell you when..?"
she began

and we'd always say: "Why, no..!"
and listen to her again

be a girl
of seven

and 1963
was hers to have

forever and
forever.