She was a respected teacher. At first
her former students would come often, cajoling her
into remembering. A great storm came,
she would say, and took away my memory.

Now she just sits while we can see
her words melt into the rising waters.
Finally the line between yesterday
and tomorrow was lost in the mist of today.

She complained of feeling useless, confined
to this ugly chair with wheels. For those
who cared it was a relief when she
no longer knew what was happening to her.

--Elaine Parker Akin