Shades , November 29, 1995.

(C) Copyright 1997, Mahmoud A. El-Gamal.

I once walked past a stumbling man

and offered him a helping hand,

but as he felt me getting near,

he jumped back with apparent fear.

Just then I saw his eyes were white,

and thought: ``his blindness caused his flight''.

But then, he said ``it isn't so,

I fled from you to let you know,

``that once I had two perfect eyes

which yearned to see beyound disguise,

``and so I looked beyond the shade,

and promptly saw all colors fade.

``With all the colors seen, and none,

I saw how all the shades were one,

``and saw how darkness came from light,

and that was when I lost my sight,

``then every time I try to walk,

someone would help, and I would talk,

``and then they learn to see as well,

and fall prey to the blinding spell.

``So only help me with my load

if you're prepared to walk my road''.