WHEN WE WERE BEAUTIFUL.....

*In loving memory of Brian. M. Chilufya

Way back then when we were beautiful,
We were as free as the droplets of rain dangling from the leaves of trees.
We were as noisy as a hailstorm;
Never feeling the pain of the pelts against our skin
Living for us was all that mattered;
Way back then.

Way back then when we were beautiful,
We were as tiny as fleas on the hair of ants
Yet we were as spirited as a bull elephant
We climbed the biggest trees,
And conquered the deepest forests,
We were not scared of getting lost because we had each other;
I was because we were,
Way back then

Way back then when we were beautiful,
Time seemed a mere drop in the ocean
Never once did we imagine anyone could guzzle it up so fast;
We often contemplated what lay on the other side of the mountain of time
Little did we realise that mountain will one day be but a small termite mound
Contemplating such seemed to be a sheer waste of time, back then.

Way back then when we were beautiful,
We drew pictures in the colourful book of life;
Oh what beautiful pictures they were!
Pictures of eternal friendships and perpetual glee
Where it’s summer every day of the year with no heartbreak, no suffering, no pain
I see you, my friend, and wish that I too may be beautiful, just like we were,
Way back then.

By Katongo Kwendakwape  ( Zambia )

picture credits: artflakes.com