Once Upon Another Year

Idle lies the world tonight.

Stricken silent, like a terrible blight.

Barely lit by flickering streetlight-

my shadow's growing longer with every word I write.

Into the confines of my mind, you dance;

I knew I messed up the moment I glanced.

In all the lands, I'll never see

again a look like you shared with me.

But off you've gone to chase the sun.

Who was I to keep you from

your place beyond the atmosphere?

May our stars align, once upon another year.

Caught within your siren's song,

I dove into those eyes headlong.

Drown me in the roiling seas-

I'd rather embrace the storm than breathe.

If I could do it all again...

Oh, if only I could do it all over again.

It's really not a matter of if, but when

I'll find you there in the churning tide...

At least in my mind, I'm by your side.

But off you've gone to chase the sun.

Who was I to keep you from

your place beyond the atmosphere?

May our stars align, once upon another year.

Hopefully, somewhere out there you'll find

your path away from sorrow's binds.

You just couldn't handle our shadows combined-

so off you fly... to where stars go to die.

So you said you've gone to chase the sun,

But I think it's the moon from which you run.

I'll leave you this note, sealed with a tear.

Should our stars align, once upon another year...

I hate to say it, but I won't be here.

Author's Note

Eh.

I gave the notebook another try yesterday. Still ambivalent (at best) about it, but here it is either way. Originally, this was going to be something of a lighthearted, lyrical song, but over time it just devolved to the point I had to rewrite the "chorus" entirely. Not sure why, really; of all the things on my mind, nothing like /this/ has been one of them. Maybe it's like nightmares - they don't always mean how they appear. I have no idea.

Reviews

[Nolo Segundo]

It's beautiful and heartbreaking, which makes even more beautiful.

[Krutika]

That was hauntingly beautiful wizardy of words. I liked the name of the song. Once upon another year. It's catchy. Maybe I will use it sometimes. Thanks for sharing ✌️