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Long and Not So Long Ago
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Cute (G) I've not yet cleared thirty candles
In fact I've three to go
Older gents and ladies tell me
That there's much more yet to show
Five years ago I met a girl
Already blessed with love
Found in the hearts of two young girls
Both hawk and fox and dove
Ten years ago I thought that I
Could crack the earth in two
So quickly did life set me straight
And humble me anew
Fifteen summers at my back
Saw me wondering why
The little girls about the room
Didn't quite like "shy"
Twenty years in this boy's past
When seven years had met me
Are many fleeting memories
That murmur "don't forget me"
Twenty-five years ago
If I could hop through time
I would match up limb for limb
With this little boy of mine
He's sleeping in my arms right now
And probably still wonders
Why little things he tries to learn
He just can't help but blunder
If I could read his precious mind
I'd tell him, "Oh don't fret"
"These little things you strain to master"
"I strain to forget"
"But don't worry little guy"
"I'll help you through it all"
"One good way to keep from tripping"
"Is to learn from Daddy's falls"
So twenty-seven years in all
I've been buckled to these bones
Older people smile and cluck
And some shake their head and moan
"If only I was your age, son"
"I'd do it all again"
"I'd right the wrongs that came my way"
"I'd undo every sin"
"Never would it come to pass"
"Where I would walk the way"
"That wouldn't find me everything"
"That I am not today."
I wonder if that's how I'll think
When twilight finds my heart
When chatting on the porch all day
Becomes a practiced art
Will I regret all of the times
I lefted instead of righted?
Should old flames so long burnt out
Find themselves ignited?
I don't think that's the way it works
For every youth has found
Ups and downs and lefts and rights
To the heavens and back to the ground
And these things that they have seen
Occurred in such short years
It never really minds your age
We've all felt smiles and tears
It doesn't take much time at all
And this I was never told
Guard your youth, your precious youth
For it's far too easy to grow old
Bless you, Stuart! For taking it to the heart. Beyond the next three candles, and well into the future, may you keep your youth. -- Shouldn't be hard with those kids you obviously adore to keep you on your toes, hehe --Stay 'forever young'! Always, Essie =)
Guard your youth! Well I didn't succeed at that, but sure made up for it later..and became a writer. Gave me material ;-) I do like your simple clean writing approach to life, I edit poetry anthologies and believe me many people complicate their work. May God bless you..in your writing at this critical time in the world..I will be waiting to see more about your vision in a political sense.. saphie
Hi there, I thought that poem was great, if only I had such talent! well, thank you for critiqing my poems. And I hope you continue to write because you're very good at it. This poem inspired me to always try my best to make the right choice. :) Katelyn
So true, and so beautiful. :) I really loved this one, not only was it written nicely of course, but just the meaning behind it was so honest and true, and really makes a person wonder about their own feelings on life. Will we all regret every crazy thing we did or didn't do when we're older? Absolutely great poem! :)