On The Edge of Then

On the edge of then, 
In the spring of hope, 
Came a set of eyes, 
And a heart to match, 

With some torn-up shoes, 
And a bit of rope 
‘Round some plastic swings 
By a wide green patch, 

In the big backyard 
 that a farm kid knows: 
 with its hills and grass, 
 with its curves and bends, 
 far away from noise, 
 and strife, and crime, 
 and all the distractions 
 of having friends. 

If I go back there, 
In my heart or mind, 
There is no now, 
Or then, or time, 

Just the feeling left 
Of the wind’s caress, 
And a world so full,
But of emptiness,

In the big backyard 
 that a farm kid knows: 
 with its hills and grass, 
 with its curves and bends, 
 far away from noise, 
 and strife, and crime, 
 and all the distractions of 
 having 

 friends