It wasn\'t long ago
When nestled in his arms
Like a whorled flower bud
I felt his warmth
It wasn\'t long ago
When he taught me to ride a horse
To ride over my dreams
And chase the stars
It wasn\'t long ago
When he was called to action
Bereted in olive green
The honor of the land pinned to his chest
It wasn\'t long ago
When he told me he was only migrating
Like the soaring swallows
Who return with a new season
It wasn\'t long ago
When he wrote to me
Of cheerful cherry blossoms
Blooming from Earth\'s bosom
It wasn\'t long ago
When he forgot to mention
The perishing petals
And sodden snows
It wasn\'t long ago
When he fell
Like a withered chinar leaf
Onto the red earth
It wasn\'t long ago
When he told me all wars could be won
If past faults were undone
With the advent of flowers
It wasn\'t long ago
When his voice was drowned
In a sea of shouts and salutes
As a floral wreath buried him
It wasn\'t long ago
When I saw him scaling the skies
It won\'t be long
Before we meet again