In An Unusual, Unlikely Place Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

So many awakening to discover they have aged,
Can not take it upon themselves...
To embrace and face the facts.
With a holding on to keep in their minds,
Times from them gone to never come back.
No matter what is discussed.
Or treasured as if everyone should remember,
What was done to do.
And who did 'this' with a doing of 'that'.

Very few are finding those conversations,
Interesting enough to be involved that much.
Or listening to others making attempts,
To embellish stale details...
With re-arranged nonexistent occurrences.
'I don't believe you can't remember what happened,
On that date in 1968.'

And dare most will,
To prove they can reveal...
A doing done with pictures taken,
When no one looks like they did...
When they were young and then kids.
'Now...
That's 'me'. And standing in the third row, is 'you'.'

Some living from day to day and on a regular basis,
Healing to overcome from disappointments...
And various obstacles to face,
Are seldom the ones wishing their minds time to find...
Total recall and clarity to retrace,
Years long gone.
When it was just yesterday,
They could not match a pair of sox.
Or forgot where they put their house keys.
Only to discover them found,
In an unusual, unlikely place.

'You did what? '

~Found my keys.~

'Your mind isn't what it use to be.
We were talking about something entirely...
Where were they? '

~Where was what? ~

'Key, keys. Your KEYS.'

~Well...
While I was looking to match a pair of sox,
I had forgotten I placed those keys...
In one of my shoes.
So I wouldn't forget where I put them.~

'And the sox?
Did you find a pair to match?
God...
Please tell me or show me a sign,
You are providing comic relief.'

~Eventually.
That's when I remembered,
Where I put my keys.
I cut my toe on them,
When I put my foot in one of the shoes.
Why are you looking at me like that? ~

'It's faith.
Just holding onto my faith.
That's all.'

So many awakening to discover they have aged,
Can not take it upon themselves...
To embrace and face the facts.

'Maybe at another time,
We can have that conversation.'

~Oh...
I'm sorry.
Now...
Which one is 'you'?
And...
Are you sure that's me in the third row? ~

'Uh...
Let's forget it.
Soon I'll be going to Bible study.
Would you like to come? '

~No.
I'll be going home to finish cooking.~

'Please don't tell me you were home cooking? '

~I 'was'.
But you made it sound so urgent,
That I come over here.
Don't worry about it.
I 'think' I left the frying pan on 'low'.~

'I hear sirens.'

~I hear them so much,
I don't pay them any attention anymore.~