They flutter behind you your possible pas ts,
Some b righteyed and crazy, some fr ightened and los t.
A w arning to anyone still in comman d
Of their possible f uture, to take ca re.
In d erelict sidings the poppies entwine
With c attle trucks lying in wa it for the next tim e.
Do you remember me, how we used to be,
Do you think we shoud be c loser ?
She s tood in the doorway, the ghost of a smile
Haunting her face like a c heap hotel si gn.
Her c old eyes imploring the men in their mac s
For the g old in their bags or the kn ives in their bac ks.
Stepping up boldly one put out his ha nd.
He said, "I was just a child then, now I'm only a man ."
Do you remember me, how we used to be,
Do you think we should be c loser ?
By the c old and religious we were taken in han d
Shown h ow to feel good and to ld to feel bad .
Strung out behind us the banners and fla gs
Of our p ossible pasts lie in ta tters and rag s.
Do you remember me, how we used to be,
Do you think we should be c loser ?