Cruel Lethe

You passed me in the street today
Without a look or smile,
You did the same thing yesterday
In a supermarket aisle.

In a bar you stood beside me
As he poured your G and T.
You thanked him, turned and walked away
Without a glance at me.

Why should you ever look at me?
Old white-haired wrinkled fool
With silly gap-toothed grin
And flabby useless tool.

I see many pretty women:
Firm bums in well-cut jeans,
Nice breasts, red lips
That I only kiss in dreams.

But now I have to look away
In case you see me stare
And fear an old man's lechery.
I'll move away somewhere.

I can't recall the names of things
Nor what I ate for lunch today
Yet well remember loving girls
'tween sheets or in the hay.

I am not sure what month it is
But alone in bed at night
I dream of times of love:
My pleasure and your delight.

These memories torment me now
For I will never know again
A lusty woman's hot embrace,
Love's pleasures and love's pain.

I can't remember names of friends:
Oh Lethe, you are so unkind.
You spare these memories of youth
But steal names from my mind.