times long ago

** times long ago **

All of the dancers
In hand-me-down dresses
Darned and sewn
slightly worn and frayed at the edges
Spinning so slowly cross the hall floor
All of their smiles
So tired and faded
As are the posters at the door
All of them looking so jaded
Wasn't like this in times long ago.

Knights in their armour
No longer stand so straight and so tall
Backs are so bent
And vision is dulled
Armours not shining
Battered and torn
Swords are old ploughshares
Left rusting and forlorn
Wasn't like this in times long ago.

The old schoolground's cold
Lines for playing games are faded
Cigarette butts nest in a corner
So classrooms are bare
The laughter of children
No longer here to share
Look at your hands
see their so grey
Wasn't like this in times long ago.

The heartbeat is slower
Enjoyment is lower
Passion has almost ebbed away
The dreams of tomorrows
Forged in the yesterday
Still haven't arrived
And today is not what
You hoped it might be
In those times so long ago.

You made all the promises
Fulfilled all your bargains
Made compromises needing to be done
Still doesn't seem
You captured the dream
You once beheld so clearly
When you were so much younger
Eyes were bright
Your conscience was clear
In those times so long ago.

Had so much to tell
Now journey is shortening
Tale's almost ended
And you can still recall
How precious and fresh
How rich burned the life
How real and important it felt
When you lived the story bright
In those times long ago.