Looking Back

By John McMenamin

Men in pubs, defeated faces

Tired eyes, display the traces

Early promise, then rejection,

Hours spent on sad reflection.

If only I had seized the chance

Read the wistful backward glance

Choose the path with the ruts,

Ignore the doubts, the if's the but's.

Spent more time in meditation

Rode the train to the final station

I never walked the extra mile

I day dreamed by the wooden stile.

I thought that time was never ending

My in-tray full, decision pending.

How long each minute seemed to last

And yet, the years flew by so fast.

It was easy, to go with the flow

My boat was heavy, hard to row

I sang and laughed with jesters head

Never saw the rapids up ahead.

Washed up on the shores of life

Drinking helped to east my strife

"The same again boys? It's my treat"

Never saw the quicksand round my feet.

Friends, just seemed to disappear

Look around, no ones here

Life's for real, it's not a fable

By glass leaves circles on the table.

Light a fag, what's that you say?

Yes, looks like rain again today

Flotsam and jetsam come and go

"Last orders boys - time to go!"

Brake lights reflect on rainy streets

Stereos pound with lightening beat

Stumble up against the wall

Still on my feet - I didn't fall.

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John McMenamin's website
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