Christmas 2007

While sitting cramped and nearly breathless
(the heat was high and the volume deafening)
I saw
from about ten feet away
my father
pointing in my direction
He very seriously asked my niece
(his grand daughter)
who I was

He said "Alicia, who is that woman?"
"I know I should know her, what
is her name?"

I must admit
it infuriated me
that he forgot my name,
but remembered who his
grand daughter was

He sees her more
and she is successful
He sees me less
and is not proud of me?


Then, all at once
I felt great fear
my father forgot my name
OH MY GOD...
he did not know who I was

What's to remember?

When I told my mother
(his wife) she was not alarmed
she said "he forgets things sometime"

I can never forget the day
my father forgot who I was