Days Gone By

At the time I was most a man I wished I were still a boy

Gentle the breeze that floats the air

across the years it moves my soul

Words so sweet, so gentle, and clear

melodies of love took their toll

 

A face from my past gazed at me

I had met these eyes once before

I recognized this sweet beauty

from far off to the distant door

 

Dropping by when I am weakest

lighting mysteries upon my breast

Playing melodies of love's heart

feeding the memories of my chest

 

I remember those laughing eyes

that had once stared back at me

No less the beauty decades since

in her face that child I could see

 

Aloof and careless with herself

walking high upon nature’s wine

She poured her beauty on my soul

no woman was ever so fine.

 

But oh the times of yesteryear

how they tasted divine like bliss

My mind a-wash in thoughts of her

longed for that first touch and kiss

 

Time seemed to have passed but moments

yet many years had seen much joy

At the time I felt most a man

I wished that I were still a boy

Author's Note

Written to commemorate the day I ran into my childhood sweetheart at a party Some 15 years later than I had last seen her as a child.

Reviews

[Astrid Hamilton]

THANK YOU.

I wish to thank you, from the depths of feeling hammocked in reverie of sweetness.
This poem was first read silently without Etta James's At Last in the background-
The first time I read it, I felt the most peace I have felt in a long time- just for coming across a stranger's poem but feeling enraptured by some certain unknown uncertain nostalgia of what it's like to be a child and see the world through a child's eyes, precious, a little girl is always dreaming of holding in her tiny palm the hand of a special boy who at that first rose blushing, only thinks upon his face as hers, at last, somewhere hovering above in Heaven's distant, and now close- dream.
This poem is surreal.
These lines brought tears to my eyes:

No less the beauty decades since
In her face the child I could see

...and then of course, rereading it a second time with the first of melody-
brought life to me.

THANK YOU.

[Domo]

That was one of the most touching pieces I have ever read of your Tate. Bravo, truly bravo. This was amazing. Great right Tate, keep it up.

[bluessadmood]

ohh such a longing for beautiful times past..how we wish for it to come even in flashes..
a face from long time past looked and i met those eyes,they play melodies to my aching heart
i remember the laughs,the staring back at me..seemed like only yesterday,how you come to my mind
i see you careless and free,free spirit walking on natures wine,how i fed on your beauty and my soul cried of joy
none was ever so lovely,how i see you so lively and so fine its like time just afraid to move with you around
those memories like a bliss,what a joy i felt then..wish i stayed as your lover,make me feel so young and forever
lovely write

[Poeticpiers]

a yearning to return to innocence my friend beautifully expresses And yet the older I get the less I wish to go back to that state of ignorant innocence.

[An owl on the moon]

What a beautiful, expressive write... A longing to go back... to live those moments again... or at least to feel those feelings.. so well spoken...

[Brokensoul]

This is soooooo beautiful! I feel that I will fall in love with you!
But seriously you have used such poignant metaphors.

Aloof and careless with herself
Walking high upon nature’s wine.
She poured her beauty on my soul
No woman was ever so fine
This stanza is so very romantic and passionate.
The last two lines

At the time I felt most a man
I wished I were still a young boy

Are inexplicably wonderful

[Stacey Watts]

Very nicely written. I think at times we all wish for to back at times. This was a very poignant piece. Excellent job.

[Georgia Gypsy]

I could feel the longing run throughout this piece....very beautiful! You seem to always write so on rhyme, very classical!
Really enjoyed reading!

[Tracie Skarbo]

Wonderful...such beautiful feelings expressed in this one. Love the picture too...it is so cute!

[Helena]

Absolutely stunning Tate! Romance at its finest penned with such beautiful words and rhyming was perfect as usual. A very fine poem poet! Bravo!

Helena

[gimpy]

many men wish for the purity of boyhood while those who live in boyhood only wish for the day they would become men is the not a place to meat in between (retoricale qustion)