When I was born my family tree

held two great-grandparents

four grandparents, two parents and me

and for a few years, I remembered all eight

When both our children were born, on their stem

there were five great-grandparents

three grandparents, two parents and them

of the ten, they remembered six

When two of our grandchildren arrived

there were two great-grandparents, three grandparents

and two parents still survived

and of the seven, they remembered them all

When two more were born things had skewed

there was one great-grandparent

three grandparents and two parents to include

and they remembered all six

When our great grandchild was born

a much later twig on the tree

he still had two great-grandparents

four grandparents and two parents you see

And it's here I contemplate something regretful

with earliest memories usually around three

odds are good those numbers could half

and the chances he will remember me

will only be, from other's memories or a photograph