We All Grew Old at Breakneck Speed

Beer and afternoons well spent
in pleasure and good company
consumed, taken in at leisure
time not passing nor the need
of life's petty, grey attachments
borne out from necessity
leave us lone with gentle fading
amber light and laughter free

Find me under bows close pressing
kicking apples 'neath my boots
on an evening lost to telling
stroll amid the garden roots
seek me by the sleepy river
giggling 'gainst its reed-thick bank
stealing o'er the boundary wall
strolling back for food and more

Tell me of your plans and news
optimistic Summer muse
your's the hour and memory
of golden mid-year revelry
of how we'll take sand and storm
breaking cadence of each dawn
spinning all to straw-spun fawn
and win our field of gold

Remind me on some far-flung month
when light lies like a steel bar
on every unwashed window, car
and sound falls dead and cold
of rays beneath the orchard trees
running children with red knees
dreams much like the bumble bees
and never growing old

J. x