Lost Words

Often I need or at least badly want a word
that has unexpectedly, like a wild bird,
flown out of sight or rather out of mind.
Absurd to lose a word, a word I’ve owned
for many years, perhaps since I was
in second grade or even earlier when I read
or was read to in Nanny’s lap.
It seems absurd I’ve lost that word.

If this had happened just once or twice
instead of nearly every day perhaps
it would not trouble me, not be a
repeated source of embarrassment and
consternation. Note how I found those fine
words, embarrassment and consternation but
when I was watching butterflies I lost yellow.

Note: Written in 23