Paper

P A P E R

Memories of meetings fade away,
Flowers dry up and shrivel.
The touch of a beloved is soon forgotten -
But what’s writ on paper prevails.

The heat of the sun’s rays diminishes,
Shadows lengthen, heart-beats slow down,
Youth itself regresses into the past,
But the words on paper remain.

Love grows and grows, then cools with time,
Endearments of lovers too shorten
From “Dearest” to “Aye You” is but a step
But what you promised in writing – stays.

What we want, becomes a chain of regrets
Time never stands still, nor ever will;
Profundity also surfaces in shallows
Till Death Do Us Part – did you write that?

Paper records your present and refuses to change -
Cracks up, shrivels, browns, but maintains:
I am your past, and you may not alter me.
I am your only hope, and you may only cherish me.

© Dr. Taher Kagalwala, Feb 2009