Echoes of Dreams Deferred

I dreamt of castles built on clouds,

Their spires reaching for the stars.

But morning came, the mist withdrew,

Revealing only empty jars.

The map I drew with childish hands,

Of treasure buried in the sand,

Led only to forgotten shores

Where footprints vanished from the land.

That wishing well we once believed

Could turn our pennies into gold,

Now stands bone dry, its bucket cracked,

Its secrets never to be told.

The future's price keeps climbing high,

While present moments slip away.

I trade in cautious whispers now,

And save my heart for another day.

_Ravi D