There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
when
.
w
e
.
could
love
–
–
without
lying . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
hold
–
–
without
hiding . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ there
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
when
.
w
e
.
could
talk
–
–
without
trying . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
lay
side
.
b
y
.
side
–
–
without
crying . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ there
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
b
u
t
–
–
–
now
eyes
.
g
a
z
e
.
into
eyes,
–
–
which
disguise
.
b
u
t
.
no
longer
ignite . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ they
.
n
o
.
longer
ignite,
.
a
n
d
.
no
longer
prize,
.
o
r
.
burn
.
w
i
t
h
.
pride . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ they
.
n
o
.
longer
prize,
.
o
r
.
burn
.
w
i
t
h
.
pride . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
goodbyes
.
n
o
.
longer
hurt,
.
o
r
.
even
blur . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ they
.
n
o
.
longer
hurt,
.
o
r
.
even
blur . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
those
future
.
d
a
y
s
.
which
.
o
n
c
e
.
shined
.
s
u
c
h
.
promise,
–
–
excitement,
.
a
n
d
.
delight . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
danced
.
s
o
.
blissfully
.
a
n
d
.
wondrously
.
w
i
d
e
.
across
.
t
h
e
.
warming,
–
–
hope-filled
skies . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
n
o
–
–
–
longer
prize,
.
o
r
.
burn
.
w
i
t
h
.
pride . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ those
future
.
d
a
y
s
.
which
.
o
n
c
e
.
shined
.
s
o
.
boundlessly
bright,
–
–
begin
.
t
o
.
dim
.
i
n
t
o
.
the
dismal
–
–
days
.
o
f
.
behind . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
dim . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
dim . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
dim . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
i
n
t
o
–
–
–
the
dismal
–
–
days
.
o
f
.
behind . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
mile,
–
–
after
mile,
–
–
after
mile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
night,
–
–
after
night,
–
–
after
night . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
until
even
.
t
h
e
.
good
times
.
n
o
.
longer
smile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ until
even
.
t
h
e
.
good
times
.
n
o
.
longer
smile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
time . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
b
u
t
–
–
–
now,
they
.
n
o
.
longer
smile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
.
n
o
.
longer
smile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
.
n
o
.
longer
smile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
They
.
n
o
.
longer
smile . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
falling
further . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
further . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
further
behind . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ further
behind
.
t
h
o
s
e
.
times,
–
–
when
.
w
e
.
could
–
–
love
without
lying . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
hold
without
hiding . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
talk
without
trying . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ those
times
–
–
which
shined
.
s
o
.
wondrously
wide,
.
a
n
d
.
boundlessly
bright . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
across
eternal
skies
.
o
f
.
bliss,
–
–
hope,
.
a
n
d
.
delight . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
only
.
t
o
.
dim . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
only
.
t
o
.
dim . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
only
.
t
o
.
dim . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ only
.
t
o
.
dim,
–
–
decline,
–
–
dither,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
die.
Reflection: This was a forgotten romantic-themed poem I wrote back in September of 2019 where the contemplator looks back on a dying present-day romance that was once full of beauty, wonder, magic, and delight – and ponders how things ended up to the point where there is not only no love between them, but they don’t even like, want, or respect each other anymore. Most likely it was the collection of little things all along the way. I played the wonderful song “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” by Luke Bryan in the background to create the “moodset” for the poem. If you listen to the song at low volume while reading this poem, you might better get the “feel” of it.