Glory Days

When I was young, I swore that I’d never,
Fall short of my grandiose endeavors.
But as time passed, I compromised,
After seeing the world through grown-up eyes.

When I was young, my soul was on fire,
I saw all things clearly and vowed never to tire.
Now the once raging fire is merely an ember,
And things that were clear, I can barely remember.

When I was young, I vowed to be,
Just like the wind, wild and free.
But duties prevail, and must be fulfilled,
And freedom’s elusive, do what you will.

When I was young, I swore wisdom to find,
To keep and treasure, and fill up my mind.
But wisdom is fleeting, and hard to ensnare,
It comes at great cost and is something quite rare.

When I was young, I knew what was right,
And was not afraid to fight the good fight.
Now right and wrong are hard to discern,
And it’s for simpler times for which I now yearn.

When I was young, I fought like no other,
And always defended friend and brother. 
But friendships fade and brothers move on,
And at last we relinquish those once sacred bonds.

When I was young,  I saw all the world’s flaws,
And knew how to fix them, I couldn’t be wrong.
But the world is complex, I was soon to discover,
And it’s problems to solve, I would leave to another.

Now I am older, a bit wiser it’s true,
Penning poems on line with nary a clue.
Though imperfect and flawed my verses may be,
They still bring contentment, if only to me.