MEMORY

My eyes gaze across the wall of frames,

The once still photos begin to animate,

Playing the remaining scenes

From within my mind.

Silently observing, quietly loving,

As I’m taken back to a place before hardships

A place before uncertainty

A place of no location

But rather a people,

My people, my family,

Whom I visit as a man

But leave as a boy,

Bright and revived of hope,

As though I’m leaving into the world

For the first time again

After living with their warmth and comfort.

While the years may carry on

And the walls begin to stain

And the cabinets crack

They will hardly miss a beat,

And no matter how far I stray along the wicked journey,

Their beat stays with me

Upon this wall of frames,

Silently observing, quietly loving.