MEMORY

                                                   XCIV (B.94)

What an efficient computer
Is the human memory
And what a very good one
My model used to be.

It stored billions of memories
Cross linked to smell and sound
And in a fraction of a second
Information could be found.

I never forgot a name or face
Or an anniversary
And millions of useless details
Were stored in my memory.

But as the decades rolled past
I was dismayed to find
A fall off in performance
Of memory and mind.

My memories of the distant past
Are all still crystal clear
But my short term memory is becoming
Shorter by the year.

My hard disc must be nearly full -
It's well past the half century.
A new hard disc is what I need
But then - I would not be me.

There is a silver lining to this cloud
(And one can always be found)
I can enjoy the same book or film
Many, many times around!


June 1995 - and things haven't improved.