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.

[Kymberley Dawn]

absoulty beautiful loved it

[cynthiabuhainbaello]

This is beautiful and truly nostalgic, yet profound in its innocence. Ones' heart does not feel old, I think, only the body does.

[KristynRuth]

I'm so glad I read this poem, it's so sweet

[Shimmerbliss/CAF]

I am so glad you pointed this out to me. There are those who remind us not only of young love, but of being young. So moving.

[David Lewis Paget]

Nostalgia, nostalgia... Childhood is such a marvellous period in our lives, when we are seeing our little world for the first time, and meeting others at the same innocent stage of life. Why is it such a draw to our memory? Because there is absolutely no responsibility, no bills to pay, no food to prepare, no clothes to wash, no money to distract us. Our little playmates also, with nothing to do but explore these exciting new friendships... hard to believe that my own little friends from childhood are now approaching 70 years of age....

[Speak in Silence]

It's beautiful, good luck :)

[lee von cleef]

Time, smooth , I love how our minds keep time and place and smell and sound and attitude all tied together in one mental spot, with "trip" wires across our brains waiting to pull us back to that time and place , Then toss us an eraser . Well done,
( can't get used to that "Yesteryear" word) Time ...

[*** Hey Jude***]

Your words are like waves of sweet memories caressing the shores of life in this tender write. The accompanying music At Last is a perfect pick.
Love the way your words "Speak" to the heart of humanity!

[...]

very lovely tate...very lovely indeed :)

[Harmony Babin]

Oh, wow its beautiful (: Love it