POEM: YESTERDAY WAS SO BEAUTIFUL

photo by Alex Lear

 

YESTERDAY WAS SO BEAUTIFUL

(and its passing so sad)

 

when the day transitions

it goes to night

first, before

there can be another

day

 

sometimes

a day has been

so beautiful

that in the night

instead of looking

forward

to another day

we can only grieve

for what is gone

 

but each day

is its own being

each being

has their own

day

 

whatever beauty

we find missing

tomorrow, whatever

we might miss

from yesterday

well, that beauty

we must become

 

tomorrow

we must be

as beautiful

as the departed day

we mourn in the anguish

of night

 

—kalamu ya salaam