Return Journey Poem by Paul Reed

With no knowledge we set off, naïve
Our future forever and a day,
In every little thing we believe
The ending seems so far away;

Who cares about tomorrow?
When today offers all the gifts,
A hideaway from all the sorrow
That heart and hope uplifts;

We bask in the currency of days
Our life force set at fever pitch,
Swamped in our endless youthful ways
In the future we are rich;

Then, abruptly, we are brought to a halt
We tread water, catch our breath,
Our feelings go into a somersault
We are brought to acknowledge death;

Our excited gallop up the hill stops
Nonplussed, we turn around,
A chill breeze sweeps the tops
And we descend without a sound;

Now we see things in a different light
The faded roses with petals torn,
Now mellow colours invade our sight
Steadfastly ignored from being born;

The outward thrill is past and spent
And life's lesson been made to learn,
Our invitations are stamped and sent
For the ancient journey of return.