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way back

we go way back
11th or 12th century
13th 14th . . .
I really don’t know
exactly what century
maybe it was
much earlier

I know it was
in the North
I remember
the feel of it

the flavor
of the time
and the people

time was different
back then

way back
in a time completely
different
than now

thoughts and actions
were different
and we were
a different sort
of people
back then

primitive by what
we expect
now
when we wake up
in the morning

but more sophisticated

in life
and living
and dying

our living
and dying now
is primitive
by what we
expected
and lived
way back then

the energy
strength and
unhurried awareness
in how we lived
and loved
walked hunted
planted gathered
rowed sailed
fought
and died

this time
our lives
our doing
of what we do
are pale
and ghostly
in comparison

barely existing

a corruption
meager living tendrils
wisps of courage
and truth
which half appear
and fade

but I remember
the strong scent
and blood
and joy

the courage
and sacrifice
and love that
dared
in that time
in us
in our beginning

when we kiss
when I’m inside
you and we feel
each other

and we remember
who we were

and are

I know
we go way back

from 2012 — Bill Eberle

September 12, 2012     © 2013, Bill Eberle