Life in Pictures

LIFE IN PICTURES

My life flashes past me in photographs

Why do we keep these things?

My life is vaporising day by day

It appears for a moment

And vanishes away

                    …

It appears for a moment again

In these photographs – physically –

laid out on the floor

                    …

Now here it comes up

The emotional perceiving of friends gone

My life stops in front of me on paper

That person – loved and esteemed

In my life no more

                     …

And now it comes up – the lump in my throat

As the vapour stands still

In colour and black and white

All flat on glossy surface

As the light hits it – but absent friends – no more

                      …

Now they come up – the flooding memories

I perceive and lay aside

Never seeing much point in upsetting myself

All emotional within

Kiss them and put them away

                       …

My name will echo in days to come

Echo around the room of relatives still here

As the old photo album is reached for

And dad/uncle/friend/grandad is pointed out

In photos on the floor

                        …

And bang them though you will

And poke the video even more

Yet you will never materialise what has gone before

                         …

I’m gone – only flat-me remains

I smile out at you

You smile back at me – but you – I cannot see

Photos – photos – what use are you?

You can’t bring them back to my warm embrace

                         …

Photos – photos – I can see

Photos staring back at me

All flat and glossy though you be

Your premier production is a two

On a scale of ten-to-three

                         …               

Nothing substitutes for time gone by

Nothing takes the place of the real you and I

Hug me quick – hug me long

Keep these moments – my life prolong

Thankfulness for time well spent

Loving all – thicker than water

                         …

You – are – right – now

I am right now

Dispense with the photos and jump together

Holding our embrace

Jump into inner space

Or hold forever all our love within

The end will come – but let us begin

                         …

Keep our love fresh – let me see your face

The smile and look – I know so well

I tick the box on the form

With indelible ink – I fix you before my eyes

I melt into you – and will never leave

As eternity is promised to those who believe