Yesterday (Poetry)

                was a distant sea we paddled in —
mere children at the water’s edge
we whiled our summer through
thoughtless of the future — unaware
what shifting sands of time would do...

And so absorbed in play were we
the sun went down unnoticed — lost her warmth
to cooler breeze that suddenly round us blew
the beach deserted as the tide reclaimed
its wandering tenure — proven overdue.

The far horizon lured — a fairer mermaid called.
First love became a song for me alone.
Life settled for nostalgia’s clifftop view
safe out of reach — the sea’s salt-tainted kiss
could neither spoil nor reconcile we two.

And should we ever find ourselves again
on memory’s shores exploring hand in hand
and dream desire’s rekindled — flares anew —
we must listen to old hearts that beat more wise
for I’m much changed by time and tide —

I did not wait for you.