settling

The alchemy of
not forgetting
what you want to
not forget
is a difficult
science.
It could have been art
but then those
timorous little
squeaky voices
refuse to lapse
into a roar and
the next thing you
have to do is write
an algorithm for
not forgetting.
Well, not write write
but inside the head
play things step by step,
you know.
You wish to amplify
what was swallowed-
philosophy and loves
and conversations and
poetry and oh! great verbs-
how I want to remember
jilt and lurch and slit
cringe and slither
but even stick notes
won't help.

Perhaps it is the rain,
you say -
it is pouring so often,
nothing settles
within or without.
So you wait for winter
for things to set
and freeze
promptly forgetting
how the last summer
thawed and undid
winter gains.