Once Upon a Mind

H. W. Bryce

Once upon a mind
I had dreams, I made plans,
I lived my utmost day by day,
I was bold, I had my say,
I broke the bonds, I ope’d the bans,
Once upon a mind.

I miss the days when I was strong
Never put a foot down wrong,
I wish I could, and if I could, I would
Be that strong again.

I had dreams, lived up to some,
I did the things I could, by gum,
I lived, I loved, I gave some back,
But then I never did keep track…
Once upon a mind.

Once upon a mind…

Once upon a mind
Life was then more kind
People had respect
Trust had its effect
There were plenty smiles
We were healthy walking miles
People talked to people
Churches were alive beneath their steeple
Once upon a mind.

Somehow things got tangled up,
I lost control, my mind shut up,
My body ceased, my spirit grieved,
And I lost out on life, so did life…
Once upon a mind.

Once upon a mind folks looked up to me
They asked for my advice and drank a cup
Of life’s sweet nectar while we lit the torch
For tomorrow’s day, we had our say…
Once upon a mind.

People cared in days of yore,
Didn’t mind if you were pore,
Don’t know what happened then
Till now or if they’ll change, or when…

Once upon a mind the world stood still,
Just for a moment…to hear the soldiers sing,
‘Til they were ordered back to cope
That day nearly crushed the life of hope.
Oh, once upon a mind we dreamed,
But other forces reigned and deemed
That they knew best…
Once upon a mind.

And now I sit, I’ve been left out,
Although I’ve had a life there is no doubt
My glory days are through…
But the spark of life remembers when
I was strong and you knew me then…
Once upon a mind.

So,
Now it’s you who has to carry on
And I am fine with that, move on,
I leave the task in able hands
I know the world in all its lands
Is going to be…quite all right—
And so am I; I keep in sight
That Peace will be reborn and live,
That all good hearts to this will give.

Once upon a mind,,,
I had dreams, I had plans,
And still I have, I believe
The young will grab the torch
And lead the way to Peace!
I believe as once I did…
Once upon a mind…

CREDITS: Old man – by Leroy Skalstad. Permission pending. found at:
http://www.freepik.com/free-photo/pensive-homeless-portrait_576191.htm
Old House: http://preciouspicsphotocontest.blogspot.ca/2011_07_01_archive.html
and scroll down. This house kind of reminds me of our house in Meadow Lake, Sask.