The Skeleton

Once I saw a skeleton,
placed by a temple,
placed there so respectfully
to inspire wonder
in all those who looked at it.

And I wondered, who was he?
So unlucky a man with everything
about him gone forever,
only his unnamed bones
still standing.

But now I know
that the time will come
when I too will be
an unknown skeleton,
and if I'm as lucky as this man
I will be saved from oblivion,
with something of me living on
to awe others years hence
as he had done
to me.

- Nina Alahakoon (07/04/04)