Three Long Afternoons - Ayla Nereo

I saw you were standing there

a fistful of sand said you’d never leave from this place

where we had played for three long afternoons.

The broken sticks were bent and covering

a roof of gold we’d had imported from Spain

let’s keep on playing for three more days…

And you saw me like a starling swimming

through the leaves they’re turning

colored shades and you turned me into yesterday.

Armed with an oath, «I am no enemy»

they’re hiding with swords and waiting to break at the seams

but I can see right through their cloakscreens.

So take my hand and take my bow

and string a straight line that will let them know

that we’re piling sand up round our home of gold…

And you flew me like a firefly lightning

in the eyes it’s bursting

into flames and you burst me into yesterday.

Now the bell is ringing for you to be leaving this day with the moonbeams

moonbeams

hide me there, ‘hind the stairs, ‘till the next day,

we’ll cover our eyes ‘till we know we’re safe and away.

And you flew me like a firefly lightning

in the eyes it’s bursting

into flames and you burst me into yesterday