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.

[Shelly Braen]

The blooms of childhood, so precious and never more beautiful. How wonderfully you paint such words. It never ceases to amaze me, the gorgeousness of such love. A masterful portait, so thoroughly portrayed!

[SydneyAtaya]

awee its really cute and sweet, full of alot of emotions. i really enjoyed it! =)

[Jazique]

Awe loved that. To reminisce about the childhood memories. Well done and adored the song. Apparently cupid had once hit your heart and it was a joy to know the effect from which this poem was born from.

[Frankie Nguyen]

I loved the emotions in this! This is great! It's so sweet! Great job!

[Stacey]

How sweet and precious!!! I love the BIG tune with the little loves...perfect together. I still remember that first boy who tagged me in dodge ball, pulled my hair...then kissed me on the lips on the school bus. That was honest, pure love...and I still remember it to this day...lol! Loved the write ~ Stacey

[justice]

:) I love that I can get lost inside the narrative of your poems. I find myself living this piece. I absolutely love this. This is how I know any sort of literature is great to me. I do have a few questions though...
L11 - should it be "love's"? since it is a possession.
and
L13 - should it be "eyes"? since there is no possession.
Maybe I am just reading these things wrong. haha. It would not be the first time and definitely won't be the last. Thanks for sharing these with me. They are great.
J

[Forever Mine]

Almost a bitter sweet love, but more sweet than bitter for sure. This was beautiful and serene. Like some of your other work i have read, i loved it.

-forever mine

[Walter Scott Morrison]

Had to drop a review for you. Reminded me of peaceful love and memories that I had nearly forgotten. I enjoyed reading it very much.

[Mark]

This is a lovely poem in its own right, Tate, but let me tell you how it affected me. As it ended, I began writing new scenarios--how he conquered his fear and approached her, how she effected not to remember him at first and how that affected him, how he manages to engage her in converse, and the instant her recollection healed...on and on and on, my friend! This has the making of a true ODE, it elicited such a fabulous depth of emotion, of wistful yearning. It's a fantasy we have all shared, to return to the lost opportunities of the past, and you have executed it masterfully!

[KatiePie]

"I remember those laughing eye's
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"

and

"Time seemed to have passed but moments
yet many years had seen much joy
At the time I felt most a man
I wished I were still a young boy"

Were my favorite lines.. I think. I was extremely hard to choose, since I love them all so much. The way your writing flows offers the reader moments of bliss, and peace. I found myself breathing the word "wow" by the end. Amazing write! ^_^