Past Our Prime

I liked it back when we were thought a pair And held in high esteem by lovers all Who envied what it was we seemed to share when we were also fooled within that thrall As actors lose themselves in parts that call for reinvention on a stage set bare We played our roles as partners till our fall I liked it back when we were thought a pair How long then were we blindly unaware? Imprisoned to ourselves behind a wall Over which the outside world would stare And held in high esteem by lovers all Did they not sense our soaring passion stall? Did we pretend because we didn't dare Betray our lie to those who held us tall Who envied what it was we seemed to share Rituals and habits were our snare We once long-striding lovers forced to crawl till only rote and duty lingered there When we were also fooled within that thrall Their crushing expectations left us small You took all else I was, to my despair what little hope I had is in your haul If others need that from us, I don't care I'd like it back