Composure in a punchline

The joke I know

has a punchline that

you might have heard before

from me.

But was it today- in the same

conversation

and did it hide the fact that you

surprised me by coming- but

did you tell me? Or

was your visit really the nice surprise that

I said?

And when you comment on the vase of

multi-hued pink flowers- (they start with P, but I don’t

remember what their name is)

on my coffee table

do I say thank you for

being so thoughtful for

bringing them? Or did

someone else bring them that

I no longer recall?

If I focus on my

jigsaw puzzle or

cross-stitch, I will look

busy and not

confused. Maybe this will give me

permission to avoid

embarrassment?

Or since I am now living in this

white-halled center with

smiling nurses giving

daily

drugs and tests- do you figure

I should already feel

shame?

I think that in the past I may have

changed your diaper- but

did you come from my body or are we

separated by

A sibling?

A generation?

I will call you sweetie, and darling, and dear because you

smile and

I don’t have to tell you I don’t

Remember whose name

matches your face.

But we can still talk about the things

right here, like

the weather and whether

I like this song

on the radio

that I might have never heard before.

And when you make me laugh, I will remember

There’s a joke I want to tell you

though I can’t quite remember

The punchline.