If I could open my eyes
and see the youth on my mother's face

once more

and feel my father's vibrant embrace
to be a child again.

           I am here now

turning my face away from tomorrow

tomorrow

now so nearly upon me
a bell, tolling
ever nearer

And beyond tomorrow
there is just darkness
like the unravelling of
a lifetime's hopes and dreams
a photo album of yellowing pictures
a time so brief: did it really come to pass?
kisses and laughter goneby now fainter than fireflies
all the songs forgotten, words unformed again
years of remembering every detail of life
fading like a tentative whisper
but one question lingers
one burning question
if all this goes
then what 

remains?

© Khaled Bazzi 2006