If Only We Could

If we could go back to the days
forgotten, when for long we played
in stonework castles slumbering
in their hilly beds.

If we could remove our late clothes
and don the rags from yesterday,
the rags which were to us alone
twined in blazing gold.

If we could forsake our concerns,
invalid and petty and slight,
and return to the fair years where
you and I were free.

If we could fall asleep tonight
in some turned over dumpster bin
and close our eyes tight as we can,
may we never wake?

Or rather rise in the morning
by the sliver thread of river
that strayed along the naked vale
when we were younger.

To race amongst the gnarled trees
again and to laugh as they watched
us run in the tall spindly grass
and stop. Catch our breath.
 
The Sun stood still atop our heads
of unkempt hair and tawny feet
we bathed in his pulsating heat
and drenched our faces.

At night we lay under the stars
and wasted Time like he was ours
and loosed the tethers of our dreams
to let them wander.

 

And I was the princess, and you,
you were the knight in shining mail
that rode his alabaster horse
and saved the girl's life.

With feather pen and hour glass
and crown and rose and alien sky
with sword and blood not vainly shed
that world was for us.

We climbed the ancient boulders high
and feigned we were adventurers
and scampered 'round in children's games
of hide-and-go-seek.

Our bellies ached from laughing much

Our cheeks were flushed with country air

Our hands were muddied from digging

for buried treasure.

 

Now our bellies ache from hunger

And our cheeks are flushed with hard toil

And now our hands are muddied from

digging our own graves.

 

If we could go back to the days
forgotten, when for long we played
in stonework castles slumbering
in their hilly beds.

Reviews

[Diablo-Doom]

beautiful

[Otsana]

This made me feel unbelievable homesick. I am a country girl who lives in a city and so many of the things you have so beautifully described here are the elements which I love most about country life. Simple and yet breathtaking, just like your poem. Amazing piece, thank you for sharing.

[forevermore1218]

really good bro!! I love how you concluded each verse and made it its own. Love it :)

Keep on writin!!!!

[Deandra Dawn]

Nicely done!

[Chris]

Flow and tone... stumble free.
You draw peeps in and keep them flying - tight curves and tighter thoughts. Each ambles at memories pace til at the end we're back and looking over the shoulder where we were... Worth the read and listening too.

Thanks for it.
Chris

[Southern Cross]

I was so captured in your words that I felt lost in my surroundings after I finished the poem. Such imagery, such beauty ..innocence that you just wanted to take hold of and never let go. I think, a part of us all wants to romp through our castles once again and capture the naivety of our youth, perhaps with the knowledge of experience. That may make for interesting wanderings..This is a classic read

[S]

I think you have captured the ambivalent nature of nostalgia beautifully by (using Blake-ian terms) translating innocence through the state of experience.

[MOON]

Splendid write.

[Aeternal Oceanfire]

Brilliant!!!

[Aianarie (INACTIVE)]

Beautiful poem! The whole thing was amazing; I thoroughly enjoyed it.