I had an idea once
All I can see of it now is that it was there, and it's gone
Like an empty chair in front of cold ashes in a hearth.
There was a time when they ran rampant
Like the clean bare feet running through grassy fields,
kicking up daisies, chasing butterflies,
not stopping for a sting or a stubbed toe...
or not for long
What cooled that sunny heat
What chilly hand silenced those shrieks of wild laughter,
A shallow creek side pool was not enough to drown them
Even the dusk held promise of tomorrow's dawn
Loud thunder, blinding flashes and thick wet drops could not quench for long the thirst of curiosity and delight

Was it some storm has driven the soul inside
where the light is off, the fire cold, the air dry and dusty
not even an echo of joy remains
Or is this empty chair evidence of abandonment and neglect
A willful rampage turned inward upon itself and
burned up the meager remnants of fuel left
after giving away all the time, all the sparks,
the life waned away ebbed back
leaving nothing as brilliant as an oil slick, as feeble as a fading bow in the sky