When I am Gone

-     Jamal Hasan

When I am gone, will everything stop, 
At least for a few moments, 
To note a sudden huge vacuum? 
Will the Earth take a break,
From the tedious routine 
Of the endless journey in her orbit?
 
Will all living beings take a moment 
To realize something strange has happened? 
Or will it be that 
No one will notice any difference, 
And everything will remain the same 
As it has always been? 

My Journey from Earth to Heaven
Filled with expectations of happiness.
But why did my soul take a detour
And return to my motherland?
Did I miss my mother’s comforting embrace
More than the heavenly abode?

Alas, I am horrified now, 
Seeing the state of my mother. 
She is fragile and frail, 
Crying with agony and pain. 
What a heartbreaking scene, 
Unable to smile but weeping in pain.

Now I recall how often Mother Earth 
Warned us about her suffering. 
She gave us a glimpse of the impact of climate change 
Through global warming, resulting in wildfires, 
Unprecedented rainfall and flooding, 
And tsunamis and earthquakes.

No natural disasters woke us up. 
We continued to believe that if we lived for today, 
Others would take care of tomorrow.
We carried on exploiting Mother Earth 
For our short-term happiness, 
Without caring about her well-being.
 
Why, in my lifetime, I never had the time
To do the things that mattered most?
Rather than passing my time doing nothing important?
Now, I am feeling utterly useless and worthless.
 
I wish I could return to my previous life,
In flesh and bone, 
And nurture my mother,
Turning her into a heaven on Earth!