Eye To Eye

I take one look in the mirror

and just like that, the fact changes

some joy and some fear

as the memory rearranges

who I was, where I've been

like a visiting stranger

will I frown, will I grin

was it blue, no, it was brown

we were thicker than thieves

you were the new girl in town

no wait, that was me

I never forget a face

but these days I don't trust me

when I'm trying to retrace

we just can't seem to agree

I was a girl, daughter and lover

I worked at an office on main

I became a wife and a mother

we honeymooned on a train

he was killed in Vietnam

so I lived as a civilian

in an apartment with his mom

but now I live in this place

though I don't understand why

it's such an uncomfortable space

no, I don't know why I am cryin'

hi, my name is Barbara

but my friends call me Sue

I got that candelabra

from Lalique back in June

now Elaine, it wasn't new, it's goodwill

you know you've always been broke

as broke as that window sill

hey, has anyone got a smoke

I don't smoke, yes you do

you've always liked camel

what does an animal have to do with it

god, it's tobacco, not a mammal

you always have to be right

you always leave me confused

why do we have to fight

will you please get out of my room

"hi honey, I'm your new nurse

it'll all be okay now...."

why do you have my purse

I need someone to tweeze my brows

see, because I used to model

and a good brow shows power

"sweetie please stop trying to doddle

it's time that you got your shower"

I don't need your help to bathe

I can do it myself

will you hand me my teeth

they're over there on that shelf

See that boy? he's my son

he's come to take me away

he's come to take me back home

he says I don't have to stay [here]

hey, where is he going?

he forgot to come get me

I know I saw him tip toeing

so that I wouldn't see him

I'm sorry I'm crying

I just can't remember

he's not good at goodbye (ing)

he must have lost his temper

he is very important

and he lives in a mansion

he told me if I was goon then

I could come see my grandson

there was a time when

I helped the down trodden

because way back then

oh my, I guess I've forgotten

that happens sometimes

when I get too excited

I used to write fines

when your tires got lopsided

yeah, the tire police, the kind

that rode a bike around town

and I made lots of money, I

wore the most beautiful gowns

I'm feeling pretty tired

I think I'll lay down for awhile

my brain sometimes misfires

you sure have a beautiful smile

I used to too

when I was a bit younger

it was nice seeing you

tell me, do you ever wonder

what makes us this way

what makes us remember

what is it about a memory

that holds us together

I know I'm just rambling

but I know, it'll shut off soon

who you'll see next is a gamble

and I'll slip into this cocoon

where I'll feel myself slipping

disappearing more everyday

I'm losing my gripping

into some old fairytale

but for now, in this moment

I know the me of today

I am my biggest opponent

Watching part of me slipping away

A/N:

In honor of the families struggling with Alzheimer’s and dementia