Where Have They Gone

Where have they gone

those dreams of my youth,

all those ambitions

wrapped in good and truth.

The joy of living

that fuel of life,

all lost and buried

in debt and strife.

Those visions of the future

once filled with desire,

now sadly replaced with

endless days that tire.

Only shattered memories

of some lofty goals,

all scattered and broken

like a ship on shallow shoals.

A course wasn’t chartered

not a thought of arriving late,

I had a naïve trust

in the winds of fate.

Young and foolish, lacking

the guidance of my father,

I neglected my schooling

thinking I needn’t bother.

Driven by an energy

that always evaded a label,

it forced me ahead and

kept me somewhat stable.

Like an aimless leaf

drifting here and there,

the destination not known

but keeping keenly aware.

The past was generous

there’s no denying that,

good friends were many

most times were fat.

Jobs were seldom chosen

I took what came along,

but whatever the task

I worked hard and long.

Somewhere in my past

I was taught to care,

to always be honest

treat the other man fair.

By the age of Twenty-five

I was doing quiet well,

Earning a grand for each month

I felt sheltered from Hell.

In the next eight years

I did what I could,

wages raised to fifty a year

And all was going good.

Within that time I

enriched my life,

with a wonderful woman

whom I made my wife.

We bought a house

and made it our home,

happiness was ours

with no reason to roam.

Out of nowhere

it all came to a stop,

I lost my job

And felt like a flop.

For nearly two years

I wandered and searched,

trying this and that

never finding a perch.

Finally at last

a new field was found,

one with excitement

and lots of new ground.

But alas I find I’m

not as young as before,

the learning is slower

and need for weekends more.

The bills have mounted

with immense pressure,

I’m so tired and weary

way beyond measure.

Along the way I’ve

lost some dreams,

reaching for the stars

less important it seems.

I long to be free

and once again fly,

to rekindle the happiness

for my wife and I.

Where have they gone

those dreams of my youth,

all those ambitions

wrapped in good and truth.

The joy of living

that fuel of life,

all lost and buried

in sadness and strife.

Gary R. Cramer

April 13, 1987

There Was a Man

There was a man

who lost his way,

what went wrong

none could say.

In his younger days

he had ups and downs,

but now his days

are filled with frowns.

Not helping his journey

by now living alone,

wanting a close friend

existing cold like a stone.

Lost feelings of love

dying inside his walls,

not finding that one

to listen to his calls.

He recalls a poem

from far in his past,

thinking very hard

it comes at last.

“Is anyone out there

can’t you hear me at all,

lend my a hand

help me to stand tall.”

Desperate for some help

he searches far and wide,

finding only in life

an out going low tide.

He’s lost his way

his mind gone awry,

reaching out from the black

more often left to cry.

What to do

what to learn,

to end the hurt

waiting for life to turn.

There was a man

who lost his way,

what went wrong

none could say.

Gary R. Cramer

November 1, 2020

There’s A Glow In My Heart

There’s a glow in my heart

and it’s there because of you,

Someone reached out

and that someone was you.

From deep in my past

in a time much simpler,

Came an amazing lady

who made my soul whimper.

She was soft as a rose pedal

yet hard as a stone,

But when she was there

I never felt very alone.

I don’t know what to name it

to call it by a label

But it was rich and warm

like a blanket made of sable.

Most would call it a blessing

only a fool would turn and go,

Maybe a lost soul mate

from a life so very long ago.

She had a twinkle in her eye

and a smile to calm the ocean,

And when she giggled

life took on a new notion.

We explored different things

some Earthly some not,

And in the end

I had to love her a lot.

I don’t know why it happened

and I really don’t care,

Because she entered my life

a gift of love to share.

From out of nowhere

she would shake and dance,

Cute little gyrations

that left me in a trance.

An angel or a witch

I really can’t say,

But she was pure and simple

and never one to stray.

Not like a cat or dog

or any other great pet,

She was simply loyal

with a firm mindset.

I’ve called her a sister

I’ve even called her kin,

And I can tell you this

life without her would be a sin.

We’ve laughed and cried

and shared in life’s diner,

And at the end of this meal

she will have made it finer.

When it’s all done and over

I’m confident to say

Whatever has happened

this friendship will stay.

At a time in my life

when I doubted few to trust,

She returned on life’s waves

lifting my spirit from the dust.

How could I thank her

what to say or do,

Because in this life

people like her are few.

Then it came to me

from the love she has shown,

I could talk from my heart

and write her this poem.

She came from the past

who knows what’s to come,

But I know for certain

our parts are greater than the sum.

So from deep in my heart

let me thank you dear friend,

Feel secure in all lives

I’m your friend to the end.

There’s a glow in my heart

and it’s there because of you,

Someone just reached out

and that someone was you.

Gary R Cramer

January 25, 2010