Saving Against Alzheimer's--By Lenora Good--United States

Saving Against Alzheimer's

How do you save your nouns and your verbs?
Do you write them in a notebook and keep it with you?
Do you tie them in brightly colored silk scarves?

A blue scarf for water, as it flows upon the rocks,
under the bridge, fills the river, sings of love
and sorrow. Knot it about your neck. Do not forget.

Take your red scarf, the color of blood, the color of life.
Into it put memories of your babies, your husband,
the war he didn't survive. Knot it, twice. Do not lose.

Your white scarf holds your prayers and tears, the
mourning of what might have been but can never be.
Gather your sadness, remember it, respect it. Tie the knot tight.

Fill your yellow scarf with happiness. The bliss
of laughing babies, your first published poem,
happy times with good friends, the joys of discovery.

Knot that scarf over your heart; hold it tight. Keep the
good nouns close, the happy verbs a part of your life. Hold
onto the scarves, the knots, as you sail off the bridge.

Your nouns and your verbs will survive.

Lenora Good lives in the desert of Washington State (yes, we have one). She writes poems, novels, and radio plays. When not writing she is reading, quilting, out taking photographs, or when very fortunate, taking a road trip, she may also be found at her blog, http://livingwithrainyday.blogspot.com.