Portrait

There's just one image left. The shuffling years
change faces from their growing distance by
a blur laid on, a veil across the old
bright lines of memories and half-known thoughts
almost forgotten that return at times
uncalled-for - but beneath their coat of grime,
of dull brown drudgery and age and care
I find my first impressions always there,
the smile that shook me and those once bright eyes -
neglected painting that may still surprise.