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What is this emotion that comes over me?
A melancholy memory has arrived and will not leave
Not for the first time
It comes and goes at will
Time does not stop it
And I don’t have the will
Sometimes I savor those moments in the sun
Other times I belabor why it all went wrong
Sometimes I just sit and think about the good old days
Then I shrug my shoulders
Try to not get crazed
I do count my blessings for the joys I have known
I’m lucky to have had these memories
I have grown into them
They are mine to own
So rich they are in happiness
But those winds have blown
Yes, there is a horizon
But I’m often looking back
I looked back in anger
I look back in sorrow
I looked back
I can’t stop myself
I’m always looking back
I miss the good times
I hate the bad times
They only bring me
What have I learned?
Where is the tomboy I loved is a child?
Where is my high school romance?
Whatever happened to Betsy?

That was at university
I didn’t know what I was doing then
Not sure I still do
But Betsy, Betsy was cool
Sometimes I check her out on the Internet
But I can’t call her
I’d just be a fool
You can’t take away the past
But it’s not going anywhere
The memories do last
But they’re going nowhere
They can keep you company
But they’re no substitute
When the train leaves the station
It takes your heart en route
To the blue horizon
Where dreams go to rest
You give thanks for the good times
Even though that’s all that’s left

Past perfect is grammatically correct
Along with question marks and exclamation points
That signal the shipwreck
That shall languish in the sands of time
No longer to sail the seas of romance
Slumbering on the reef of disappointment
It had its chance
But that ship long ago sailed
Only ghosts shadow dance

If I’m being elliptical
There’s a reason why
I don’t need to name names
The two of us would cry
If I made it public
In private we forever sigh
We had our once upon a time
Then we said goodbye
Memories and dreams
Sometimes run together
Blasts from the past
Keeping us alive
As the years roll around
The recollections remain vivid
The solid ground of living
The love that lives on
From the time that now is gone

They linger and flicker
Tasty mental hors d’ouvres
That almost satisfy
Lord, didn’t we have a time?
Sweet nostalgia
That brings a weepy smile
For the good times we had
And for what we missed
For the love we shared
For the times we kissed

It’s not anybody’s fault
Things just turned out this way
We are lovers like no others
In those yesterdays
Leaving memories and dreams
Oh those joyous times of yore
I’ve had a good life
Really couldn’t ask for more
I’m a hard nut to crack
But she’s got my back
Sometimes she blows hot and cold
Giving me a double whammy
We go soul to soul
Heart to heart
But in no rush
For I’m no escape artist
It’s never over and done with
But mostly smooth sailing

As to us, which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Beats me
But our adventure is certainly through the roof
Third time’s a charm we always say if we struck out twice
Often on a wild goose chase
Well, now the cat is out of the bag
Let’s get to the meat and potatoes
Time to circle the wagons
We shall cross that bridge when we get to it
Then get the ball rolling
Off and running
Take the bull by the horns
Even if it’s raining cats and dogs
And we might be under the weather

If pigs could fly
We’d put the cart before the horse
Why? Because the grass is greener on the other side
We lead our horse to water, but drinking is another story
We travel as the crow flies
Even if I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed
We know that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
That time flies when you’re having fun
It’s all music to our ears
After all, it’s not over until the fat lady sings
The elephant in the room is that sometimes
We are ill at ease
Causing me to bite my tongue
But with time on our hands
We are partners in crime
Operating smooth as silk
It’s a given that every cloud has a silver lining
It’s an open secret
Yet a vicious circle
Whether we are naughty or nice
But you cannot sugar coat
Playing with fire
Even with fast friends

In black and white
Boilerplate language
We salute our friends across the pond
Even if they are late to the game
We don’t let them strike out
But let them try Hail Mary passes
Especially on the on the campaign trail
We appear cold as ice
As we roll the dice
To get to the end scott free


I sound like a broken record
Like some busybody
Who supposedly know the ins and outs              
Then, oddly, the plot thickens
Are we persona non grata?
Sinking like a stone?
Over a barrel?
I can’t put my finger on it
So, time for a deep dive
We go through the motions
The ups and downs
Talking out of both sides of my mouth
Full of white lies
Innocent excuses
Fighting off the evil twin
In the guise of a tom boy
But the attitude of a devil’s advocate
We move with two shakes of a lamb’s tail
Lest we are down for the count
We’re all on a slippery *****
It’s just a matter of time
But we’ll get the show on the road
Even if it’s neither here nor there
Lest we walk the plank
Still it sometimes is catch and release
As we teeter on the razor’s edge, the cutting edge
All while towing the line
Indeed walking the line
Until X marks the spot
Then it’s the cat’s meow

Sometimes life is watching paint dry
Are we playing the wrong game?
As if the lights are on, but nobody’s home
But I’m sharp as a tack
Or a fish out of water
Going from the frying pan into the fire
A big fish in a small pond
Of course where there’s smoke there’s fire
Yet I feel free is a bird
A diamond in the rough
The bees’ knees
Even if I can’t see the forest for the trees
I am swimming upstream
Sometimes that’s how the cookie crumbles
Other times, it’s just what the doctor ordered
Causing me to fall on my sword

Financially, we are always robbing Peter to pay Paul
Did I lose my marbles? I ask myself
But we seem to be happy as pigs in a blanket
Notwithstanding too much monkey business’
I believe I’m a sly fox
Not running out of steam
Rather it’s pedal to the metal
I ain’t pushing up daisies
But staying stone-cold sober
But don’t hold your breath
I won't get out of Dodge
Or eat some crow
Not as long as I think outside the box
And stay in my own lane
Others may be green with envy
But that’s neither here nor there
Not enough to get bent out of shape
Or be dead in the water
Me and the Missus are partners in crime  
Who are always saved by the bell
These times are through the roof
Still you mustn’t judge a book by the cover
Yes, hindsight is 20/20
But that’s a cop-out
If you have a dog in the fight
So the goal it to hit the spot
Be on the mark
Take it one day at a time
If you only know that the truth hurts
Then you’ll be be jumping for joy
We’ll meet you halfway

My way or the highway is not for me
Nor grasping at straws
Or firing blanks
Or blowing smoke
Life is not a walk in the park
There’s some heavy lifting
Requiring tooth and nail work
Then you’ll hit that home run
And no, the end does not justify the means


Have you observed that where there’s smoke there’s fire?
When that happens, hit the road
You don’t want to be a defendant in a kangaroo court
With all that jazz
It’ll rain on your parade
Not my or your cup of tea
Don’t get stuck between a rock and a hard place
Have the wind in your sails
Stay away from too much monkey business
Pure and simple
Or you’ll wind up with a raw deal

Apple didn’t fall far from the tree as to me and my Pa
I can face the music
Even if it’s out of the blue
No more beating myself up
I’m going straight as the crow flies
Gonna play it by ear
Living on the edge
Talk everyone off the ledge
Never be thrown for a loop
I’m so happy they’re so happy
Life is good today
They’ve got an international love
So do we
I wouldn’t have it any other way
They got the paparazzi
We got her and me
Selfies are just fine for us
All we need to be
In love
Is love
Ain’t that the way for her and me?

Woe begotten, love forgotten
That’s what it appeared to be
Then she arrived and I survived
My darling EMT
Who gave me kisses,
Oh the blisses
With conviviality
We’re now a couple
Inseparable
No one can get between her and me
The first time I fell in love
I was so very young
Eight I think I was
Old enough
To know that she was someone special
What a girl!
I used to dream about her
Then she moved somewhere in the world

I lost her, even wept
Oh so long ago
But then came Julie
In the 10th grade
Oh, I loved her so
She was brilliant
Sunny too
I had my first kiss with her
But the next year we were through

Let me tell you about Paula
We were at university
Oh what we learned together
Of which I should not speak
Those were good times
Golden yesterdays
She became an actress
The movies took her away

Next is Sandra, so much sass with class
We worked together closely
I can’t remember who made the first pass
Let’s just say we were intimate
I wanted her to stay
But she went off to Paris, France
Fashion held her in sway

Patricia, my dear Tricia
Is the one who captured me
Irresistible, just plain marvelous
She fulfills my needs
With smothering kisses
A smile so ever bright
She became my missus
We’re together every night
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