Past Future Imperatives Poem by Thomas Golding

From past to now once futures expectations
From childhood which was mellow if not golden
Which only seemed endless or we would not be here
To ask the questions
What happened to the dream of shaking the world
Into a pattern of our choosing
What happened to the friends who walked in step
Where are those who agreed with our young plans
To change an indifferent world to caring
Was it caffeine high in dimly lit lounges
That over-sauced chocolate cake
Speaking loudly over the hiss of steam
From psychedelic espresso machines
Neon lit rows of gleaming chrome levers
The Italian maestro played with vigour
No demented Leon Chaney pounding the organ
Seeking for the Lost Chord
Could have so impressed his audience
How easily they become the establishment
Those friends who abandoned our plans
Now a new generation plays the game
May they have better luck
No moral questions bother our younger self
As he harasses our sister by hanging her dolls
Can I ask him if he wondered what might lie ahead
What life might be?
He shakes his head as he hoists the teddy bear
Vague concern for retribution was enough
Ask Instead the one who is our ending
They say age brings wisdom senility permitting
So speak to us
ANSWER YOU OLD FOOL!