Seasons Dreams

Summer came and I played

Running through the streets

And terrorising neighbours

Not a care to be had

Thinking only of the now

And the moment

The precious moment

Of enjoyment

And happiness

Skinned knees and bruises

Trees to climb

Oh the trees, tall

Proud and invincible

There to be conquered

As each and every day

Challenging my recklessness

Spring arrived play became serious

The competitive edge arrived

And I scrapped for every victory

Every ounce of my body

Strived for success

And my mind

Emboldened by knowledge

Looked to the years ahead

The bright future

Steeled by the skill within me

Enlightened by my never-ending

Thirst for wisdom

And the fortunes that awaited me

As I conquered

Each and every challenge

Blocking my path to glory

Autumn turned the leaves of life

To shades unrecognisable before

Bright hues of distant memories

Dimmed to harsh realities

Glory days look far away

And never to be reached

As I face the silent slumber

Of an enemy that strikes at will

From nowhere comes the

Unrelenting force

That knocked me to my knees

And took away my dreams

Shattering my waking hours

Vanquishing my every move

As each and every day

My eyelids droop unwillingly

As winter falls upon me

Dreams I had for glory

Replaced by dreams uncalled for

My fortunes lost to weariness

As every day becomes

A battle to stay alert

Awake to cast off shadows

That haunt my every move

Steal my cherished moments

As minutes turn to hours

Drifting to the silence of sleep

Losing out on life’s adventure

Looking back in moments few

Of the dreams that I once had

As each and every day

This slumber strikes me down

© Fergus Martin

2012