If Only Poem by NAYYAR SHABBIR AHMAD

You enriched my life
in so many countless ways
Ofcourse, I didn’t realize it
at the time
In fact
not until today
When it was
unfortunately
far, far too late

News of your untimely death reached me
only two days ago

Its full extent didn’t hit me
immediately
But, once it did
I can assure you it struck to the very quick

I accepted it stoically
something I know, you’d have appreciated
And thought of the many good times we’d shared together
Times I’d either taken for granted
or hadn’t wholly appreciated, then
Times I more than cherished and appreciated now

Now...!
When those times have gone forever
Now
When they won’t ever return

If only I had realized
when you were alive
what a gem of a person you were
If only I had made an effort to see you more often
taken you to the movies, theatre, shopping, dinner etc.
If only we had spent more time together...
that would have been more than enough for me
If only I had made more of an effort
If only...
If only...
If only

Amongst my many regrets is
you’ll never know
how very much I loved
and appreciated you

I’ll always love
and, appreciate you

But then, that’s life
One doesn’t realise
how precious some people are
Until they’re out of reach forever

My one consolation is
the flame you lit within me
will never ever be extinguished