In Retrospect

When all the threads are broken,

When all the vows are spent,

When every word that I’ve said or heard

Means only ... I repent!

When all the ships of fortune

Have sailed to a foreign strand,

I’ll give my memories, every one

To hold you by the hand.

 

When yesterdays tomorrows

Hold nothing more for me,

And all my fate and fortune

Is lost in my imagery,

When every friend and favour

Has turned to walk away,

I’ll watch you from my window

Act out the ragged play.

 

When all the futile speeches

We’ve made to each and all

In search of some dim purpose

To save us from the fall;

When all the futile speeches

Hang dust in the empty air,

I’ll need you more than ever

To tend my dark despair!

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[bob, small b. aka invs]

it's nice to find a poem with such fine rhyme and meter that also has something to say. you've managed to write with nice structure without becoming greeting card trite. not an easy thing to do. nice writing.