And the years have taken their toll
leaving me with only half of my whole -
That which was my shadow is now but me,
and the me is my shadow's shadow.
Fainter, flickering, fading in the melody
longing away, long with reminescences
not sure any more ; all that I thought,
life was, life is. and yet, dark recesses -
caverns on the shore of memory.

 Love came, love passed me by, came again -
regularity, a chance meeting, a happy pain-
Till I stopped to think of it, but as -
Old songs we loved and shared...
The common strains to show we cared.

 Time was, when we had time on our side -
Time is, when the time we had is all the pride,
Emptiness, but not a vapid void.
a pleasurable vacuum, free of desire -
free of desire, yes, but not without,
at times, missing the lively fire.

 Time was, when we hadn't the words, but wanted to write.
Time is, when we have the thoughts, but the will has died.

~Shombuddho~