Golden State Hospital

We had just missed her birthday that she herself probably didn’t remember 

Hopefully she forgives us for not visiting, after all it is a new day

I saw her, she saw me, but her eyes followed the bag of treats we brought her 

Aunt Mag I said, but all she said was go on, move on, let me lay 

She snatched the milky ways out of the bag and wrapped them around her body like a baby

She must not have been eating that much lately

I tried to converse  and communicate but all she wished to to was eat 

It was clear that she had no idea who I was and for that my heart was weak 

I told my mom I didn't want to come

These homes are so sad and too me just dumb 

It was lonely and the rooms themselves looked hungry 

No wonder all these old people were so grumpy 

I went outside to get a sniff of fresh air 

and all I got was the smell of humid smoke 

These people really shouldn't be smoking I thought to myself , oh dear

All along Aunt Mag wasn't crazy she never had the right to gloat

But now Im starting to think about all the “at least” possibilities 

At least on her 91st birthday she doesn't look like a beast.

At least she can still recognize good candy 

And the fact that she still likes to rest comes in handy 

Thank God she still has an appetite 

She might not remember me, but at least she can still recognize a good day and a good night 

At least she's not the one outside killing her lungs 

Instead she's invested in movie nights and yoga and still having fun

At least she is alive to see another birthday

At least she remembers the time of day

At least she remembers to bathe 

At least she’s cooperative with her nurse Dave 

At least she is still capable of peace and love and not wars and knifes 

At least she knows I love her, she’s healthy and still ready to fight for her life