MY PAST PAGES

Crimson flames through my ears
Unraveling tall and mighty traps.
They crashed burning on blazing roads
Using ideas as my maps
"We'll meet on the shore, soon," I said
Proud beneath the burning brow.
Ah, but I was much older then,
I am much younger now.

Half-destroyed prejudices leaped out
"Rip out all the hate," I shouted,
Lies that life is black and white
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
Romantic deeds of musketeers
With roots deep, somehow.
Ah, but I was much older then,
I am much younger now.

Faces of girls traced the paths to follow
Away from false jealousies
Learning the politics
Of the past history
Imparted by corpse evangelists
Not thought despite it all.
Ah, but I was much older then,
I am much younger now.

The tongue of a self-proclaimed professor
Too serious to deceive
Declared that freedom
Is just equality in schools
"Equality," I pronounced the word
As if it were a marital vow.
Ah, but I was much older then,
I am much younger now.

In military pose, I aimed my hand
At those bastard dogs who taught
Not caring that I would become my enemy
The moment I would begin to pontificate
My existence guided by confused boats
Mutinied from stern to bow.
Ah, but I was much older then,
I am much younger now.

Yes, I stood guard when abstract threats
Too noble to be ignored
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and evil, I defined these terms
Clearly, without doubts, somehow.
Ah, but I was much older then,
I am much younger now.

My Back Pages (Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton & George Harrison)