There
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
.
place,
–
–
where
.
t
h
e
.
patience
.
o
f
.
time
–
–
walked
.
a
.
slow
.
a
n
d
.
steady
.
pace . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ there
once
.
w
a
s
.
a
.
place . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
did
.
n
o
t
.
rush,
.
.
b
u
t
.
.
never
.
f
e
l
l
.
behind,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
the
days
.
seemed
.
t
o
.
s–t–r–e–t–c–h
.
f
o
r
.
miles,
.
a
n
d
.
miles,
.
a
n
d
.
miles,
.
.
a
l
l
.
.
the
while . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Clear
.
f
r
o
m
.
chaos
.
a
n
d
.
clutter,
.
.
w
e
r
e
.
the
pages
.
o
f
.
my
mind . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
warmly
embracing
.
w
a
s
.
my
heart,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
accepting
were
.
m
y
.
eyes . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
Engaging
.
w
a
s
.
my
smile,
.
.
a
n
d
.
.
gentle
.
w
a
s
.
my
style . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
a
n
d
–
–
–
towards
others
.
b
a
c
k
.
then,
.
.
I
.
could
never
.
b
e
.
unkind,
–
–
without
considering
.
t
h
e
.
price . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
s
o
–
–
–
yes,
.
I
.
have
.
n
o
w
.
come
.
t
o
.
realize,
.
.
I
.
.
once
.
lived
.
a
.
wonderful
.
life . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
filled
.
w
i
t
h
.
laughter,
–
–
rhyme,
–
–
fun,
.
a
n
d
.
sunshine . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ I
lived
.
a
.
wonderful
.
life
.
filled
.
w
i
t
h
.
laughter,
–
–
rhyme,
–
–
fun,
.
a
n
d
.
sunshine . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
back
in
.
t
h
e
.
youthful
paradise
.
o
f
.
joyous,
–
–
carefree
.
d
a
y
s
.
gone
by . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
~ back
.
i
n
.
those
times,
–
–
when
.
I
.
did
.
n
o
t
.
judge,
.
.
o
r
.
.
cheat,
.
.
o
r
.
.
lie . . .
–
–
–
.
.
.
I
apologize.
Reflection: This was a forgotten reflective-themed gem of a poem that I wrote back in October of 2014 where the contemplator looks back with remorse on a life which started out so wondrously free, carefree, and easy only to reverse somehow without his/her awareness – it was likely the result of small internal and external changes which accumulated over the years and decades. The end of the poem offers an intentional twist which sharply contrasts and conflicts with the rest of the poem.