After All These Years

I looked into her transformed face Fabric of the unknown years surrounds her like a thousand tears A face so pale, of ruthless gray Betrayed, abandoned by her youth Not that girl from yesterday.... and seems a ghost of someone else Our friendship born in childhood, How young, and carefree we were then She, with bright eyes, and blond hair that curled around high cheeks and rosy chin She was the one who wore a light Who's charm, and laughter I so admired The childhood where we would conspire, and dance in grass till the twilight hours Where is the face of innocence? Where is a trace of radiance? No longer there, not one small glimpse Where is the girl that I once knew? Oh, but now inside my heart I weep and want to change the course Today, our meeting here, by chance I see the toll of years that passed. In my mind, and in my dreams, she had always been The fair maiden, the one who had held my hand Two little girls who made such plans Who sat in the shade beneath the trees And in the dark we wished on stars. Those stars have vanished from her eyes, and smiles have said their last goodbyes Farewell my friend.....this time I cry ......................................................................................................