Learning From The Past Poem by RIC BASTASA

these are the rainy days
night and day
those who live beside
the rivers of our
times
are finally leaving
and i am deeply touched
if they are
coming back

i live in a house with
a good roof
which i earned for years
and years
my clothes are warm and
my bed warmer
and who really cares if i
thrive on this
happy moment alone by
myself?

the rainy days are given
not our choices
but somehow we have learned
from the past
survived the present and
with so much skill have
learned so well
to embroider beautifully
our own future....