"Old Photographs"

Looking through old photographs

At all the lives I’ve lived.

All the people I’ve loved and lost.

The places I have been.

And the memories come flooding back

from the corners of my mind.

Memories I’d thought I’d forgotten

only to find my mind’s been kind.

And amongst the tears, there’s smiles.

And amongst the smiles; tears.

For all the love I’ve encountered

In my mere 40 years.

And I realize, saddened, that I’m halfway through life.

It’s a sobering thought.

So I look at the ghosts in these pictures

And try to learn the lessons they taught.

Life is short; live it.

God laughs at our plans.

Don’t put off for tomorrow what can be done today.

Be kind to one another.

Being forgiving doesn’t mean that you can’t walk away.

Make new friends, but keep the old.

Love one another.

Celebrate joy.

It’s okay to experience sadness and anger…just try not to linger there.

Their motionless mouths whisper to me

a million lessons they wish to share.

These ghosts of my past who loved me and left me,

but have done their best to leave me prepared.

I see so much hope and optimism in their young eyes.

So many plans for futures they’d never see.

And I get lost wondering what the next 40 years

Will have in store for me.

Will my Angel and I start a family?

Will we find a house to make a home.

How much time do we really have?

I’m overwhelmed by the unknown.

So, instead, I’ll travel to new places.

Instead, I’ll make new friends.

Instead, I’ll take more pictures to leave

for others when my life ends.

And instead, I’ll treasure these photos

Of the days and seasons past.

And do my best to focus on

making memories that last.