I am greatly changed

Great Expectations

That poor dream, as I once used to call it,

has all gone by. (The freshness of beauty

is the saddened softened light

of once proud eyes.) I have very often – .

I intended to come back. Tracing, proving.

I thought – . I thought you would like – .

‘God bless you, God forgive you!’

you said to me.

I am greatly changed.

I thought you would like to shake hands.

What I had never felt before

was the friendly touch.

I very often hoped – .

I have often

thought of you.

An imaginary case.

I have been considerate and good,

I have been bent and broken,

suffering, God forgive you.

Suffering, God bless you.

(Suffering has been stronger

than all other teaching,

a heart to understand

what my heart used to be.)

The ground belongs!

Everything else,

little by little, has gone.

I wonder you know me.

If you could say to me then

‘God bless you! God forgive you!’

you will not hesitate now.

(‘God bless you,’ you said to me.)