More Than a Memory

he sat quietly underneath the decaying willow,

reminiscing on the times when its leaves hung low and shaded his hazel eyes from the sun.

thinking of when things seemed fine,

and when the sky was blue,

and when swings moved without screeching,

and when birds sung without fear.

he stayed there until the clouds weren't visible

and when the lamp posts glowed a yellow film.

walking on broken cement,

he let his head hang, how the willow's leaves once did,

and reminisced when the world was still bright and beautiful.

sorrow gradually filled his heart as he let his thoughts

drown his hopes of the sun

rising tomorrow.