Reflection

sad warmth
         of my childhood
grown cold
         in the dust

the streets
         have been renewed
new life new dust
         gathered in the gutters

here we played
         here we won and lost
exchanged our innocence
         for broken promises

sad night
         of my wasted years
my lovelorn paths
         untrodden dreams

sad loss of those
         so close to my heart
a pile of dry leaves
         slung upon fading embers

sad warmth of those days
         snows long gone
slow melt of voice
         into silence

John Lyons