I Remember When You Forgot

I remember when you forgot your words how frustrated you would be
I remember when you forgot how to use the TV remote
and I would find you in tears
I remember when you forgot your way and stopped going on walks
I remember when you forgot how to talk on the phone,
not knowing how to carry on conversations
I remember when you forgot the way to church despite going weekly
I remember when you forgot how to drive and was afraid to tell Dad
I remember when you forgot how to spell,
and writing became a thing of the past
I remember when you forgot what you had just read and just stopped
I remember when you forgot to eat and you started to disappear
I remember when you forgot you had a purpose and you were so lost
I remember when you forgot not to be sad because you still had us
and we loved you so very much
I remember when you forgot to see the beauty of God in everything
and you would just sit quietly, shrugging your shoulders
I remember when you forgot to be patient and fell
and when you cried, "No!" as the doctor put you under
I remember when you forgot how to swallow and choked several times
I remember when you forgot who I was, but it didn't matter,
because at one time you did
I remember when you forgot how to breathe, and heal, and digest
I remember when you forgot you were you
I remember when you forgot everything and you were but a shell
I remember when you forgot let me be there when you left
so I could hold your hand and whisper, "Just let go"
I remember when you forgot to live