Mis-Remembered (Poetry)

I made a drawing of you
and gave you a round voice
in the bubble of your being
with the accent of your choice

A hazy cartoon figure
like a mis-remembered joke
you stuttered out a sentence
for the meaning made you choke

I crumpled up the paper
and left it in a drawer
the exercise was futile
and my execution poor

I’ve long-forgotten how you looked
I can’t recall your sound
I spread those ashes years ago
they lie on neutral ground