It must be years and years ago, When things were cheap, and we had snow -- It must be forty, I suppose -- When men wore whiskers, women clo'es, And So-and-So knew So-and-So (Now no one no one ever knows). Why, I remember sirloin steak Ten cents a pound. You didn't make A lot of money, maybe, no -- But, gosh, you didn't need it so; Not very much it used to take -- But that was years and years ago. It must be -- I remember when Folks went to church, yes, even men; Believed the Bible. Backslid? Oh, Some fellahs sometimes did, I know, But got religion back again As soon as they was feelin' low. What was it I was goin' to say About the things of yesterday? Well honest, neighbor, I don't know: When I git reminiscin' so I sort of wander far away Along the path of long ago. And when you git as old as me Then just as fair a memory These days will seem to you, I know: I guess it always will be so; For life to look its best to be It must be years and years ago. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AUTUMN by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON BUT NOW by GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY: COLUMBUS CHENEY by EDGAR LEE MASTERS THE NIGHTINGALE by PAUL VERLAINE CHARLES AUGUSTUS FORTESCUE by HILAIRE BELLOC |