Baker Act

 "BAKER  ACT"-ING MAMA

Aurelia D Wallace

Because I can't remember

What I had for lunch, they

Think I'm getting senile.

I hear them whispering

About the Shady Elms.

Good God, I'm not ready

For Shady Elms! I can

Still read Greek, I know

The whole score of Lucia,

(Though they don't take me

To music anymore, since

I've had to wear these paper

Pants). I can make Martha Washington's

Own recipe for Sally Lunn,

Without once peeking. I can

Recite the names and birthdays of all

Nine grandchildren, and I know

Franklin Roosevelt is dead.

                            All they ask me, though,

Is my street number backwards

And what I had for lunch, what

Day it is. Of course I know

Where I live, silly: inside these bones,

This bag my skin. No none needs

To know what I know anymore.

How is it they don't know

All days are Sunday--

As long as I can breathe

This splendid, cautious air?