LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF ( From Me To Me )

LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF ( FROM ME TO ME )

You might not remember me
It is you
ZHM

Handsome
Heard people say of me

Not a sycophant
Merely stating a fact
Not narcissistic
Physically strong
And young
Looked fantastic

Was a village teacher
Two score years ago
The memory I can't let go

With another colleague
Set up a village school
Government not private school

Did not need to walk far
Hated walking far
School was a rented house
Attended
By mixed age groups

Over thirty pupils
Squeezed
In a classroom
Four by four metres
I might add

Being hungry for knowledge
Were reselient & had courage

Do you remember teaching
Crowded classrooms?
Pupils squatting
Do you think
Your pupils learnt
In a non conducive environment?

I remember
Was difficult to teach
Could hardly reach
The mixed age groups
Five to seventeen
Were their ages
Had only four weeks training
Knew few methods of teaching

Though mixed & squeezed
Learnt happily
Would be difficult nowadays

Posted you my photo
To jog your memory
For you might have forgotten
What I look like today

After four decades
Expect change of looks
My Afro is gone
So has my bushy beard

Am clean shaven
Slim, trim ,grey at the temples
& bespectacled

Yes it is me
Heard that you marvelled
At the photo

Could not recognise yourself
Yes ,it is you
A bit different
But the same you ZHM

Googled & emailed you
Even logged in facebook
To look for you

What a fool I am
Just realised
You don't have a clue of
What I'm talkng about

Let alone twitter or use the internet
You don't even have a typewriter
You are
Technologically challenged
Now I overstand

Do you remember the day
A village woman
Waving her fingers
Almost poked my eyes

I was wearing sun glasses
She thought I was blind
Didn't have eyes

When I moved away from her
Remarked
Oh! he can see
Has eyes

Those were
Carefree & funny days
How time flies
When you're enjoying life
I told myself

My looks have changed
So have my ideas and values
Really changed for good
Am now retired
Have a new life

Have rediscoverd myself
This letter
Might bring you
Fond memories

Memories of the long trek
Mountains,hills,green meadows
The rowdy Monday market,
I bought weekly supplies

Weekend trips to my parents
Marching pupils to church
Celebrating obscure saints

Oh! I really miss you
The people & beautiful suroundings

You were young and idealist
Full of jokes that delight

Thanks
For reminding me
Of my younger me
Reminding me of my life
Nostalgic memories
The best years of my life

This letter
Rewinds those years
Those happy & carefree days

Have now recycled
Those fond memories
Am being sentimental
While writing this letter
Tears running my cheeks

Have now to control
This delightful memories
I bid you farewell

So long, Adios
This is you
Aging gracefully
Enjoying
His retirement years