The Screens of Life

Ameen Rihani (1876–1940)

We are but phantoms on the screen of life,The reel itself is very far away;And farther, in the cosmic Hollywood,The actors play.

The phantoms on the screen are moving fast,So fast that they can neither think nor see;But they are wondering whether like the pastOr worse or better will the future be.

I know, at least, whatever be the gainsOr losses as we speed away,That still for thee and me remainsA thought of yesterday.