When my mind goes
when I am 91
will you remind me
that the sun is bright?
will you pull a sweater onto me
push my wheelchair outside
and park it by some beautiful shrubs.
So we can smell the warm fragrance together
when I am 91?

When my mind goes, I will need
you to tuck me in at night.
I will be frightened of
being alone in the dark.
Who will remember me then?
Who will take care of me?

I will need a blanket with bright flowers
And some coffee in the evening with
peppermint creamer and some chocolates
Will you, can you, remember,
to bring
them to me?

If you die first I know I will have
taken care of you to the very end.
I will have played you a song
one of the good, old, songs
One that was respected,
revolutionary,
and known.
When we were young we knew all the lyrics
from every song on the
Woodstock album.
and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
We sat on the railroad tracks
until they finally closed
the plutonium plant.
We protested apartied
in South Africa
when I was young

If you outlive me there will be
no one who remembers any of this
and we never wrote our memoirs
and we never made a proper will

So when I am 91 I hope there is
at least someone
to put on my blanket and sweater
to give me cookies in the evening
to tuck me in warm,

and if you are not there I will
sing our song alone.

01/20/2013

Author's Note: While re-reading this I realize it may remind the reader of a certain Beatles song, but this is unintended, but ok, that is the way it goes!

Posted on 01/20/2013
Copyright © 2025 Gail Wolper