The Days Bygone

I yearn for them,

Yearn for days bygone

When, when I wasn't alone. 

When they were here, here with me.

Whispering voices, 

Echoing laughter, 

Yellow, dusty polaroids 

The tapes are now noir and white

Are all that is left 

The ghosts of the past

Tinkling bangles, 

Murmuring radio,

Clanging vessels,

Gleeful shrieks,

The majestic mango trees,

I yearn for them,

Yearn for days bygone 

Winter bonfires,

Summer lollies,

I yearn for them 

Yearn for days bygone. 

Morning hymns, 

Grandparents' tales,

Stories of magnanimous deities,

The festivities,  

I yearn for them,

Yearn for days bygone. 

The daily cacophony, 

The parrots' raucous call,

Sweaters by grandmothers 

Made with love,

I yearn for them, 

Yearn for days bygone. 

Not here now,

Their ghosts haunt me,

Feast on my desire-

For those days to come back,

Back where they belong, 

'Cause I yearn for them, 

Yearn for days bygone. 

I want to embrace them one last time,

Say my proper goodbyes, 

Relive them, live yet again,

For those days-

Those days are mine.

Be a child once more,

I want to grow up once again-

In the lap of my mother,

In the arms of the place, I was born.

For I yearn for them, yearn for days bygone.