An Encounter Poem by Jackie Chou

Today I met a friend from the past
We reconnected very fast
It was like I was twenty-three again
Remembering the fun but not the pain
Don't know if I'll be brave enough
To return to the life I used to love
What should I treasure
The past, present, or future
I guess I will save this rhyme
For what I have in the present time
It's the only thing I can hold onto
The past I cannot go back to
It is made up of outdated dreams
No matter how glorious it seems
The future is a mystery
I'm happy to just let it be
Instead of trying to predict it
I'll make do with who I am--a poet