Too Late Poem by Thomas Vaughan Jones

The street was dead and dusty, the man was old and grey
His mind’s eye wandered back in time, a thousand years away
When every day was summer, and all Love’s dreams were new
When lips and limbs were supple, and hearts were warm and true.

They’d walked this street together and never once looked back
To see the dreadful Nemesis that followed in their track.
Until there came that dread decree, he could no longer stay
But summoned by his country, he had to go away.

A year is such Eternity for youthful love to wait
When he returned, she’d journeyed on, and passed the wedding gate.
For years he dreamed about her and held her in his heart
And cursed the years wasted while they were kept apart

For him there was no other, to him she was supreme
His life was sad and lonely; no one could share his dream
Now, many years later he stood there on their street
And then, as if in rendezvous, they chanced again to meet

Her sparkle now had faded; grey hairs replaced the gold
He gave a nod, then walked away
For Love had grown cold.