Longing for the times that used to be
How many new lives will be made?
How many bills go will go unpaid?
How many relationships will be charmed?
How many people will be harmed?
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Are you a doomsayer and glad?
Are you an optimist and sad?
Do you still think this ain’t real?
Will you risk it for a thrill?
Will your messes get cleaned?
Will you say fuck it – icecream?
Can you use this time wisely?
Will you bitch and moan and embrace misery?
How many toenails will grow?
How many weaves will go ‘fro?
Could this be the dress rehearsal?
Might this be humanity’s reversal?
I don’t know about you but I know about me
I long for the times they when I was living free,
I long for the times “they used to be.”*
Related:
Lucille Clifton, late Poet Laureate, wrote a children’s book, The Times They Used to Be.* The title inspired the title of my poem.
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