The Decline of Recollection

Such precious keepsake days
as these
were once kept like souvenirs
it seems ..
His having saved each one for
many years ..
Just as he saved and savoured
all those
smiles and joyous tears that they
once shared ..
Until almost overnight it seemed
that age old
bastard struck and robbed him
of his dignity ..
And try then as, indeed he might,
without speech
and with only partial sight, his near
empty pen
lay there discarded, by his side
till morning ..
Whilst he shook and dribbled
on his beard ..
In some foul corner of a back ward
locked until
the morning, when the day staff
will eventually
take over, and it all begins again ..