November 1, 2012

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  There was a Time Not Long Ago   

   

  There was a time not long ago

  When all seemed attainable and sure

  Pure days that ran together without change

  A many-colored canvas bright

  With innocence of artless sun-filled thrall

   

  There was a time not long ago

  When snow-clogged streets became the playgrounds of our gods

  Sun-struck streets that also split with August heat

  Tar dug from cobbles wadded into bitter gum

  And every hour sparkled with the marvel of it all

   

  There was a time not long ago

  Ground peach-pits round brown finger-grips

  We rode the backs of trolleys

  To watch our Giants and our Yanks stretch summer hits

  And there were day-dreams in our post-game ball

   

  There was a time not long ago

  We picked the supper dandelions in Divello’s fields

  And fished City-Island’s flounder fens

  Burned red for lack of sun-screen we could not afford

  And prayed to soar beyond our brightening pall

   

  There was a time not long ago

  From the roof of an ancient tenement high on our hill

  We see a smogless panoramic brilliance

  The tallest buildings in the world

  With love in our arms that fourteenth fall

   

  When every hour sparkled with the marvel of it all

   

   

   

   

   

   

  • 10:15 am
  • 6 Comments