November 25, 2013

  • 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 the 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 of the world
    With love in our arms that fourteenth fall

    When every hour sparkled with the marvel of it all

Comments (3)

  • You have captured the brilliance of youth and dreaming when summers lasted a lifetime!

  • WOW! Just wow! This exemplary narrative made me catch my breath. I felt like I was with you and your friends on those streets and playing and laughing and loving the tallest building in the world. Yes, it all seems like yesterday, for all the similar memories that I have also. Thank you for this beautiful rendition of aged charm.

  • Wonderful! I too have memories of such innocence. Your words lighten the heart for a moment. p.s. I have left you a number of e-mails. I'm thinking you did not receive any of them?

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