They say the first thing that goes
is the short-term memory. You forget
your keys, you forget your address,
you forget the name of the president.
I like to think it's just a matter of practice—
we've had more time to practice the memory
of our favorite light, our brother's face, the
creek that runs down the center of our town.
I want to practice. Like the Russian soldier
who had to make up a word to say how
hard he would fight, said he would fight
"fiercefully," that's how I will remember you,
that's how I will practice—"fiercefully."