A poem about aging and the fear of losing memories


In Flesh Confined

My memories are fading,
Slowly and painfully cascading.
I try to grasp them with my mind and both hands,
But it's in vain — life has other plans.

I'm fading in both body and mind,
In a prison of flesh, I'm confined.
My body is aging,
My mind is caging.

Helpless to the change,
As nature starts to rearrange
The quiet toll that comes with age.
Legs in pain, and eyes gone blind —
No longer free, with age I’m confined.

Is there any love or light in this life?
Not when it’s filled with mostly strife.
People vanish, fade from sight,
Leaving you alone in plight —
Fading from both memory and light.

Please, let me keep my memories — that's all I ask.
Please don’t make me wear death’s mask.
I don’t want to wither, cold and alone;
Just one memory that burns to the bone —
That is all I ask to own.
One of love, or joy, or even rage,
So I won’t be alone in the final stage.




Poetry by E.M. Zacklin The PoetBay support member heart!
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Written on 2025-09-28 at 11:02

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Kee Zealy The PoetBay support member heart!
I am older too. Writing reinforces memories you don’t want to loose, so continue writing your joy, your pain, your stress. It helps.
2025-09-30


Alan J Ripley The PoetBay support member heart!
Were all confined to the bone,
Living on this troubled land together
Yet separate alone. I wish that could be me,
I'm not allowed out by myself.
If I could escape my tortured mind,
Then at least I could be free.
Welcome to the madhouse E.M
Of some very fine writers here on poetbay.
Regards Alan
2025-09-30


Frances The PoetBay support member heart!
Let it not be rage
Although Dylan Thomas famously wrote about raging into that good night, do not go gently.
2025-09-28


ken d williams The PoetBay support member heart!
A very thortful work. Welcome to poetbay, E.m. Zacklin
ken d williams
2025-09-28