Where Are They Now? (Poetry)

Where are the boys who could whistle a tune
bright-eyed with longing beneath a full moon?

Where are those lads with their makeshift guitars
who would posture and pout and pretend to be stars?

I remember the brothers of girls in my class
who would wink and make blush sweet young things walking past

with their school caps and blazers well-brushed to look smart
their jokes — bad but funny — would kidnap the heart

Every keen lanky lad with his freckle-faced grin
had the power to throw some girl’s thoughts in a spin

And what of that kiss and the secret so sweet
with the touch of hot hands burning urgent though fleet?

Was it all an illusion — that innocent joy —
that first strange attraction that drew girl to boy?

So where are they now — the unworldly and young?
They flirt all-too-knowing — no romance — no fun