Memory Games by Constance Brewer

All the cards lie face down on the table.
I turn them over in pairs, seeking mates.
A smiling monkey, a grinning donkey.

Next round, a prancing show horse,
an elephant balanced on a ball. Two
tigers later I begin to clear the cards

and match each with its counterpart.
I'm trying to train my mind to be
more responsive to cues. Laughing

dogs don't cut it, though. I shuffle
the kid's deck and place each card
face up this time. I still can't match

a circus bear to a circus bear without
slow perusal of each and every animal.
I'm convinced the camel has no mate

until only six cards remain. What internal
decider I once had has faded, and left
me to play children's games without


the cut-throat surety of a child.
I deal myself a full house of lions, and play
on into the night.