This poem was inspired by Remember by Joy Harjo.

I highly suggest reading her poem before reading mine! You can find it here: https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/remember-0.

Remember nothing is the better sentiment.

Forget where you came from, the air filled with gray smog and the streets

filled with shops.

Forget the long bus rides home chattering away

with your friends.

Forget the long bus rides home where traffic turns fifteen-minute commutes into a fifty

minute adventures.

Forget the thick smell of gasoline following you as you step

out of the bus.

Forget the delicious smell of fried sausages by

your bus stop.

Forget the baby blue collared shirts and the navy

blue sweaters.

Forget the quick teasing tugs on your

tight pigtails.

Forget the offer that changed it all.

Forget the joy on your father’s face and the quick cover up of disappointment in

your mother’s.

Forget the long phone calls despite twelve hour time

differences.

Forget the tearful farewells

at your school.

Forget the sobbing farewells

at the airport.

Forget the road trips taken to the most hidden corners of the country

every summer.

Forget the long hours spent in the car singing pop songs

out of tune.

Forget the wrestling matches you

always lost.

Forget the piggy-back rides through the entire

apartment.

Forget the cakes in your face

the waters on your bed

the annual birthday buffets

the constant laughter.

Because it will all be taken from you, anyway.