Little Boy Blue

Were you ever a boy once
A dark eyed child
With a devilish smile?

Did you go and sail your boats
Returning home
To give muddy kisses
And hand print hugs
Did you delight
In firefly summers
Eyes wide
Brow furrowed in your attempts
To capture brilliance
In a mayonnaise jar

Did you ever feel
As boys feel
That the world
Is yours as long as
There is bubble gum
And baseball cards
And little girls who
Giggle when you walk past

Somewhere out there is
A mother who still longs
To kiss you good night
And a father who would
Be proud of the man
I see in front of me

Somewhere
Along the way
Your games became cruel
And your collections obscene
I can feel for you
Neither love nor pride

You were a little boy
Once upon your woodland days
You still play games
On a manly field and yet
You are a boy still