Take me back somehow
To when I dreamed I’d have
A better now than now.
Return me in place and mind
To those fledgling times when we were lax and preened,
So small we lodged ourselves between the cracks
Of that and this unchanged machine
In which we now have risen to be full-fledged cogs.
Take me back
To when my back impressed upon the chain-linked wire
Dangled legs all splayed, tired out
From too much tennis played,
And spent this one forgetless hour
Before a shower and off to watch a movie.
Return me even to those since-forgotten fears,
To the stoney months and years
Of want and doubt and grit and scree,
From which Nostalgia – liar that she is –
Pans out her precious golddust memories.
Take me back
And if you say it can’t be done
For pity’s sake,
Give my back the strength to carry on.
