Shall I? - Or - Have I?

Just a line to say I'm livingThat I'm not among the dead.Though I'm getting more forgetfulAnd more mixed up in the head.

For sometimes I can't rememberWhen I stand at foot of stair,If I must go up for somethingOr I've just come down from there.

And before the frig', so oftenMy poor mind is filled with doubt,Have I just put food away, orHave I come to take some out?

And there's times when it is dark out With my nightcap on my head,I don't know if I'm retiringOr just getting out of bed.

So if it's my turn to write youThere's no need of getting sore,I may think I have writtenAnd don't want to be a bore.

So, remember...I do love you,And I wish that you were here;But now, it is nearly mail timeSo I must say: "Goodbye Dear."

Here I stand beside the mailbox,With my face so very red,Instead of mailing you this letter... I have opened it instead....