Oh, YouthBy Tony Smith

October 2003

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I go to the old place where I spent my youth.I set on a hill overlooking, yes, overlooking my old home place.

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I see the old houseI see the old housethat I once lived in many, many that I once lived in many, many

years ago.years ago.

It is old now It is old now and it’s falling in,and it’s falling in, yes, falling in.yes, falling in.

I listen, yes, I listen I listen, yes, I listen for the soundsfor the sounds

that I once heard here long ago.that I once heard here long ago.

I look for sights that I once I look for sights that I once saw here long agosaw here long ago but they are no longer herebut they are no longer here

Oh where have they gone?Oh where have they gone?

Oh why can’t I see them?Oh why can’t I see them?

Oh why can’t I hear themOh why can’t I hear them??

All I see now are Locusts and briar All I see now are Locusts and briar thickets thickets

and old grown up fieldsand old grown up fields..

Where once green clover Where once green clover and corn grew.and corn grew.

..

But now, yes But now, yes now, it grows now, it grows here no more.here no more.

Now the old black crows land hereNow the old black crows land hereWhere once they did not dare even Where once they did not dare even

to fly over.to fly over...

Oh it’s not the Oh it’s not the same here no same here no more. more.

Oh where has Oh where has my time gone?my time gone?

I do not knowI do not know

It seems like only yesterday It seems like only yesterday I was a boy here runningI was a boy here running

Yes, running through the fields Yes, running through the fields and in the woodsand in the woods

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. But no longer But no longer will my legs run with me like before.will my legs run with me like before.

They have grown oldThey have grown old and stiff with timeand stiff with time

Oh why must it be this way?Oh why must it be this way? I know not why, but it is soI know not why, but it is so.

Oh my youth, you seem to me now like a distant land

I once visited long ago

Or maybe a dream I once had Or maybe a dream I once had many years ago.many years ago.Oh my youth, Oh my youth,

where have you gone? where have you gone? I know notI know not..

I hear a loud noise. I look over toward I hear a loud noise. I look over toward the old barnthe old barn

where once we milked cows.where once we milked cows.

I can see the barn doors I can see the barn doors are broke down now are broke down now laying on the ground laying on the ground

just rotting away.just rotting away.

All the planks on the barn All the planks on the barn are gray in colorare gray in color

and now I hear the noise and now I hear the noise once moreonce more..

I look up and see what it is. I look up and see what it is. The tin on the barn is rusty The tin on the barn is rusty

It’s an old reddish brown color.It’s an old reddish brown color. 

I can I can see that a lot of the nailssee that a lot of the nails that held the tin down that held the tin down

on top of the barn on top of the barn have come loosehave come loose

When the wind blows When the wind blows the tin is hittingthe tin is hitting the old planks on top of the barn.the old planks on top of the barn.

It almost seems like It almost seems like a cry for help.a cry for help.

 

The rose blooms when it will The rose blooms when it will and it goes away when it mustand it goes away when it must

The rose blooms when it will and it goes away when it must

Death to mortal Death to mortal man is the same as man is the same as a stalker that waits a stalker that waits in the shadows of in the shadows of darknessdarkness

until time until time has took its has took its toll. toll.

And then it And then it attacksattacks