Once Poem by John Prophet

Once.
They were
here.
Came before.
Smiles, tears,
laughter.
Echos
faint echos
throughout.
Wafting
in time
and space.
Once was,
their sounds
never die.
Still here,
mellowed
filling
quintessence.
Salty soil.
Seasoned
earth.
Spirited
clouds.
Essence enfolded
in what is.
All reflected
within.
Within all.
All that
were
still are.
Souls
of this
realm.
Squeeze
the soil.
Look within.
Listen
hard.
They're
here,
still here.
Always
will be.