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