When I woke

I was startled

I did not know where I was

the dream so intense it seemed real

with an aura of happiness

for I dreamed that I was young again

and had the charm of youth

 

there I was

strong and virile

with my wife

so beautiful and smiling

an occasion of joy

and we were so happy

 

how nice it was

going back to those times

I did not want to leave

I did not want to wake

but something broke my sleep

a rude awakening

 

old men dream of better days

but old men can't go back to sleep

or back to how it used to be

 

and so we live

with only our memories

like old photos in an attic

tucked away in the corners of our mind

 

old black & whites

we can look at from time to time

in the albums of our dreams.