Ichi-Go Ichi-E

By Shivani Malhotra

One time, one meeting

One time as me, just once as myself

One time of laughter, and one of despair

One for the chance taken, another that was not

One encounter with the wild, just one with the free

One true love, one too many let go

A single thought of temptation, then abound with moderation

One so many days of toil, the joyful languish of a day

One moment of peace, the next so turbid

Once when so steady, one a many toppled

One prayer for each person loved, one wish of grace for the forsaken

Justice once and sought forever, prejudice too along the way

Once a day to see the sun rise, then again as it sets

One breath first taken, one last to let go

One of you, one of me, one of us each

One lifetime, one remembrance

Just one, never a recurrence

A reminder to treasure each moment

Life as ichi-go ichi-e

By Shivani Malhotra