PROSOPAGNOSIA

    Her case of prosopagnosia meant that though

    She’d seen and talked with you awhile, when next

    You met her, face to face, she wouldn’t know

    She’d seen you previously, as you’d expect.

    Your name she’d know and what you’d spoken of

    And recognize your voice but not your view,

    The same as well for someone she might love,

    Yet disconcertingly to someone new.

    But over time she’d learned to compensate,

    Developed tricks by which she might recall

    Identities from some distinctive trait

    Or some revealing cue, however small.

         What’s in a name is more than just a face;

         We’ve other ways to demonstrate our grace.

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