the sun always shone back when we were young
We had no responsibilities
the people we loved were still around
birthday cards came with cash inside
life was simpler
things tasted better
what was for tea was a surprise to us
chocolate bars were bigger - but we didn't know
there was food on the table
we never appreciated how good the music was
we never listened to the radio stations we now miss
we never enjoyed the classic cars which then were just - normal
the steam locomotives which pulled our trains
the family members we never imagined we'd loose
we never knew how fondly we'd look back at those times
these times
times when we grumbled at having to go to school
do our homework
Saturday jobs to earn some pocket money
made to eat all of our veg
to eat what was put in front of us
having to go to bed at a set time
having to only watch what our parents thought appropriate
this past painted with the rosy tint of retrospection
we were young and care free
everything came without cost
the past
a time now gone
which we remember fondly
a time we consider
better than the time we are in now
remembered with emotional intensity
but only the positive
forgetting the negative
the scraped knees which hurt us
our mind
distorting
idealizing
time which now deceives us
which now our mind misconstrues
the past - but not forgetting
the present - these days now
will be the yesterdays of tomorrow
for
everything was better then - wasn't it?