Promises

Oft I hear loud promises
that return to the homeland
with honour and dignity
is but a matter of days;
that my house would be rebuilt,
my annexed lands reclaimed and restored,
my status in my job retained,
the temples of my gods consecrated again,
and whatever losses compensated.

While promises go on piling up
and not one gets fulfilled
I wonder
who will reverse
the clock of seven years
and restore lost childhoods,
recover youth that slipped
into middle age,
bring dear ones,
who died prematurely
of distress and distraction, back to life;
make up for lost years of homage
to the deities out there,
and catch up with time
that cannot wait for my return.