The photo album (revisited)

I was in a rush yesterday

Health insurance premium had to be paid,

Hunting for misplaced papers,

The cupboard I did raid

And out fell this album

To totally disrupt my day

Yesterday I put it away,

But I am going through it today

It is full of bittersweet memories

Of the time we fondly call childhood

How young we were then

So clueless about the guiles of adulthood!

We had slung our arms around each others’ shoulders

Squinting in the sun, grinning at each other

Best friends then, now occasional acquaintance

Our plans waylaid by life and none other

I smile as l look at this one taken long ago

My then best friend with my number one enemy!

In this picture I have such thick growth of hair

I wonder why I am losing it now so rapidly

This one is an absolute gem,

My favourite teacher and I, in the same frame

Oh! this is the farewell one

We all looked so naive as we set forth to attain fame

And this is of the memorable historical trip

I wonder where that naughty girl in the corner is

Now comes the picnic photo

I can’t recall the date and place this is!

But the revelry is still etched in my mind

And the fun fills my heart after all these years

As I shut the album with a smile on my face

Out slips a photo which I can’t recall I ever took

I sit down on the bed, memories going in rewind

I am not in this frame, why then do I have it with me?

I stare and stare, casting back my mind

Gosh! Did I have a crush then?

Did my heart somersault at his sight?

Was the feeling mutual or was it just silly old me?

Did I make a fool of myself, oh Christ!

Haven’t been in touch since we

left school for graduation

I do not know his whereabouts,

His profession or education

The whole day I have been puzzling

How come I have this picture?