a smile crept up
on his weary face
as his fingers uncovered
his favorite album
from years ago

the songs, reminiscent
of times when he dreamt
of things bigger than reality
a life, bigger than life
with more passion than could fill his heart

the songs, reminiscent
of times when he dreamt
of plans to rule the world
of plans, to rule a heart:
and of love, and the endless years ahead

a smile crept up
on his weary face
as his fingers uncovered
his favorite album
from years ago, thinking of

the dreams, injected with maturity, shattered by time
the life, embittered by reality
the love, disillusioned, and scoffed at by circumstance

a smile crept up, acknowledging
the dreams, the love, the life, the pain and
the irony that
the very songs that take him back to
the very best of his memories
remind him of his worst