Judith A. Brice: I Want to Go Back

I want to go back to my youth again

where all is in my realm, even good health,

a new young boy and soccer games to watch—

where I can see fresh buds on trees, their flowers just behind

and in the future, many months to come

to fly headlong into years—

I want to go back to youth again, and savor my career,

to forget these days of longing, these memories

of tears. But suddenly, something happens

to my darting dance of dreams— My days revolve,

and all too quick, they turn obliquely to night.

The glass grows dim— my face becomes faint gray

and much too soon my drive to fight gets undermined

by fears. I want to go back

to my youth again, my years of hope and spring,

where each step salutes both time and zeal

and headstrong, ushers in the green.

Copyright 2018 Judith Brice.

Judith Brice is a retired Pittsburgh psychiatrist. She is the author of two collections of poems: Renditions in a Palette and Overhead from Longing.