The past weighs heavy on my mind,
Its shadow ever close behind,
A presence never hard to find,
Its power renders all life blind.

The present takes a constant hold,
Its grip imprisons young and old,
A nightmare dark and ever cold,
Its bitter song plays loud and bold.

The future floats just out of reach,
Its lessons cruel and hard to teach,
A distant dream we all beseech,
Its promise lost in mortal speech.