Howard Firkin
When I was younger and could fly by just
extending wings and making that plane noise,
I wasted time in shooting other boys,
or crashing in the chalky playground dust:
no thought the day would come I’d not know how.
When I was younger and the treasure maps
were clear and clearly marked with X the place
you had to dig, how many steps to pace,
I left more booty in the ground perhaps
than might seem wise. I need those doubloons now.
When I am older and remembering
how beautiful you were and how I tried
to keep you, how I threw away your ring,
I’ll wish that I was younger and had died.
extending wings and making that plane noise,
I wasted time in shooting other boys,
or crashing in the chalky playground dust:
no thought the day would come I’d not know how.
When I was younger and the treasure maps
were clear and clearly marked with X the place
you had to dig, how many steps to pace,
I left more booty in the ground perhaps
than might seem wise. I need those doubloons now.
When I am older and remembering
how beautiful you were and how I tried
to keep you, how I threw away your ring,
I’ll wish that I was younger and had died.
