A Farewell Letter Of Cherries (For Professor Mb) Poem by Kynpham Sing Nongkynrih

Dear friend, this is a letter
of cherries, this is a poem
born of cherries and my affection,
when the town is pink
with their blush.

This is a poem
born when summer greets winter
under a compassionate sky
like two old-timers,
like you and me
before we go our separate ways.

This is a poem
born of sadness,
for the cherries will yield
to a blasé green
and the cold will finally conquer.

This is a poem
born of consolation,
for the business of man
is not to possess
and the only part you can keep
of things that come and go
is that which you have photographed
with your mind.

Dear brother, we live in our memory
in the memory of the world:
stoking that memory with fondness
is all that we can do.
We can do no more,
we can do no less.