Once Upon a Time

Some days I can't stop writing; words continue flowing and I have to stop myself or I could write pages and pages on my blog.  Yet other days, famine strikes, and I could sit the entire day staring at the white page and barely get a sentence out.  I've learned not to force it.  When I first began blogging, I thought I had to have something exciting and readable written by me every day. Since that time, I've learned that it is impossible to keep up that pace, and some days, it's enough just to share something I found that I think you, my readers, would like as well.  The following poem brings chills when I read it for I do remember Once Upon a Time.

ONCE upon a time rare flowers grew
 On every shrub and bush we used to see;
The skies above our heads were always blue,
The woods held secrets deep for you and me;
 The hillsides had their caves where tales were told
 Of swart-cheeked pirates from a far-off clime,
When cutlases were fierce and rovers bold -
Don't you remember? - Once upon a time.

Once upon a time from sun to sun
The hours were full of joy - there was no care,
And webs of gaudy dreams in air were spun
 Of deeds heroic and of fortunes fair;
The jangling schoolhouse bell was all the woe
Our spirits knew, and in its tuneless chime.
Was all the sorrow of the long ago-
 Don't you remember? - Once upon a time.

Once upon a time the witches rode
 In sinister and ominous parade
Upon their sticks at night, and queer lights glowed
With eerie noises by the goblins made;
And many things mysterious there were .
For boyish cheeks to pale at through the grime
 That held them brown; and shadows queer would stir-
Don't you remember? - Once upon a time.

Once upon a time our faith was vast
 To compass all the things on sea and land
That boys have trembled o'er for ages past,
Nor ever could explain or understand,
And in that faith found happiness too deep
 For all the gifted tongues of prose or rime,
And joys ineffable we could not keep -
 Don't you remember? - Once upon a time.
 

--James W. Foley 1905, from 'Boys and Girls'--