Back Then - July 8 2022

 

Back Then

July 8 2022

You never think of this

as the time before.

When we had it good.

When we were naive.

When the little things

and minor annoyances

seemed big and consequential.

Because there was always something

and now is always after it.

This is how we map out our lives;

we look back

at what just happened

and assume this is now

how things will be,

the new status quo.

If only we'd known, we think

back when we had it so good.

Forgetting

that there is always something

the next big thing.

Forgetting to think

that all it takes

is a second or two

for all to change.

That this, the here and now

is not the aftermath

but the golden age

back when;

the before-time

that will soon be bathed

in the golden haze

of longing and nostalgia.

In the harsh light

of rueful regret

we failed to appreciate

how good we had it back then.