If I had remembered my camera today,
I could have shown you
            the morning sun flaming along jet trails on the
            horizon,
            yellowing leaves branched against a mediterranean
            blue sky,
            school children leaning into the nippy air as they stride
            to school;
But I couldn't have shown you
            the feeling of autumn in the air as my feet trod long
            neglected, never forgotten pathways.

If I had remembered my camera today,
I could have shown you
            the comfortingly traditional facade of a London prep
            school,
            the eager faces of well-mannered girls on the brink of
            adolescence,
            rows of desks and texts and inkpens and pencil cases
            and plaits;
But I couldn't have shown you
            the slipping of time looking into these faces so far
            from my kindergarten.

If I had remembered my camera today,
I could have shown you
            the luxury of lunch eaten outdoors in October
            sunshine,
            the first shiny auburn conker fallen on the busy path,
            the iridescent silver star caught in a crack in the
            pavement;
But I couldn't have shown you
            the delectable freedom of having lunch in a cafe on a
            school day!