Way Back Then

By Ali Affan

I still recall that day;

Way back then, when I were twelve.

The day it began;

With my life on the line.

When I saw her with my eyes;

My heart and mind froze as ice.

Her voice soothed my paining ears;

Her beauty dried my dripping tears.

She left for home on the other side;

I heartily vowed to be by her side.

I was left with a dream and image;

Sacredly placed in my heart's cage

Hundreds mocked, thousands laughed;

"You'll never approach the one you loved."

I smiled and said "Indeed!;

It's my choice and I won't pay heed."

I saved the coins and hid the notes;

My walls were filled with terrible notes

"She's way beyond your league" they said;

I knew what to say "I won't regret."

The jar was full and I was off;

With a cycle and a rose I took off.

I rode through nations, one after another;

All left me alone but my brother.

After 60 days of pedal after pedal;

I reached the land crossing every hurdle.

I found her at the hour of ten;

She was beautiful as she was way back then.

But when my sight caught the man beside her;

My dreams and my heart begun to shatter.

I passed away still being alive;

She was my only reason to live.

My only reason to live was gone;

I didn't have another to carry on.

I think today what else didn’t happen;

Because I saw her way back then…

By Ali Affan