The Past Was a Simpler Place

May 25 2012

The past was a simpler place.

Because we were young.

Because we know now

it turned out well enough.

Because we remember the good

and forget

when times were rough.

How we laugh

at the ghastly clothes

extravagant hair.

And cringe at our naïveté,

yet wish we could trust

as we did, back then.

And in 10 years time

they will mock our fashion sense

be even more ironic.

And reminisce, nostalgic

at how simple it was,

when the world was 10 years younger

and seemed to make sense.

Like us, getting too caught up

in the breathless importance of now,

the narcissism

of small differences.

Because 10 years

is too small to measure

in the history of life

the planet.

So show compassion

for the past

humility for the present.

And protect our future

from vanity, and greed.

Inhabit time

as if we were pagan gods   — 

immortal,

but deeply flawed.