Not so long ago, I perceived br The soft sound of your approaching footsteps br Closing in from somewhere behind the mist br But before I could glimpse your silhouette br It faded away in an instant br Confounding me br Thus making me believe br The intuition I had br Was nothing but br A mere figment of my imagination. br br Not so long ago, I sensed br The faint whiff of your fragrance br Drawing near, riding on the North-East wind br But before it could seep into my being br It disappeared into nothingness br Like a teardrop br Vanishing from the hollow of my eyes br Leaving just an empty trail br Thus making me acquiesce br The dreams I had so delicately woven br With the fragile thread of tender anticipation br Were irrevocably condemned to be shattered. br br Not so long ago, I discerned br The indistinct presence of your shadow br Walking by my side on the moonlit nights br But before it could attain a substantial distinctness br It transpired as just another illusion br Melting away into oblivion all at once br Leaving behind nothing but br A frigid loneliness br To chafe and deepen the fresh lesions br Inflicted by Time’s scythe. br br Just when I had concluded br With an absolute sense of finality br That I was doomed br To plummet irretrievably br Into the murky depths of despair br From where none could ever redeem me br A warm smile on your loving face br And a tender touch of your hand br Breathed new life into me.