Decade Poem by Paul Reed

Space whirls, passing the earth by
Night follows day follows night
Heavens shift, stars stud the sky
Time flows past in a shimmering light;

Unseen eyes watch our rules and bylaws written
Our game all ready to play
By ourselves we are truly smitten
To throw ten years away;

Here, with our feet leadened
With no time to make our mark
Our sounds in the forests deadened
By the ancient and gnarly bark;

Man is not all he seems
Saying he will protect his brothers
But really achieve his selfish dreams
At the expense of all the others;

See the next decade unfold
With threats and promises and pride
Watch as they grow old
And the opposition deride;

Higher minds will pontificate
Wise words uttered softly or wailed,
We will ourselves congratulate
When all that we have done is failed;

For that which is lost cannot be regained
This time wasted in unpicking fruit
Man's mistakes are unrestrained
With endlessly more to follow suit.