Hills of children's laughter
have fallen silent

Fields of wonder
are forbidden
to explore

Woods of thought
and sanctuary,
now barred by barbs

Ponds, once stocked
with dreams,

show not a ripple

No movement
below the surface
of muck
or mind

It seems
that the World
has been bought
and paid for

A parcel
at a time

and the clinging of
the "mine" mind
has caused the world
I knew to fade

The "old ones" have
all gone away
and left me
in their place

or rather

"in their stead"

for "their place" is
now off limits

Locked gates
have replaced
their twinkling eyes

Their welcome smiles
are substituted
with "NO TRESPASSING" signs

The old ones
knew my father
and met my father's little boy

They saw a trace
of Daddy's face
upon my sons

Now everyone's a stranger

New generations
hold the deeds

What was once
priceless

now has its
measure of worth

and I
am a trespasser
on God's good earth.


***