The speaker of “Forgetfulness” is an elderly person in the twilight years of their life. The gender is not specified, nor is the precise age or geographical location. In fact, the speaker positions themself and the reader to be one and the same, suggesting a universality to their identity. The speaker is struggling with memory loss, likely a form of dementia. Although there is a sense of despair to their account, they approach their descent with humor and strength.