It was a comfortable world
The table in that small attic
The old fountain pen and pad
My happy world of limerick.

His war, somehow my crusade
So read the king’s summon
In the name of God I marched
Got a shield, a shiny weapon.

Those I slayed in the day, the dead
Returned at night in my nightmares
Did nothing, said nothing, just stared
Couldn’t sleep once in so many years.

I earned my freedom, end of my war
Took a final look around while falling
Peace at last! And I had to travel far
Back to my attic, it has been calling.

A world of popsicles, marshmallows
Clay moulds and mushroom clouds
Funny teeth, out of place slangs
Fantasies, Tintin and Spiderman
The colours than brighten my day
I so wish everything stays this way
Things will change, time won’t stop
When the road ends, here I’d drop.

I can’t remember faces
And every time we met
Lost myself in those eyes
Perhaps to read you better
Or perhaps to remember
Afraid it would be our last.
Years pass, we meet again
Rushed on a call, not yours
To find you comfortably lain
All ready for the final course
Same old smile on your lips
And the eyes closed forever.

I’ve been watching you
Sitting across not so far
Keeping at arm’s length
Untraceable, real near.
Like a guardian angel
Or a heartless assassin
And I didn’t understand
Which one I’m becoming.

The confines of reason
The depth of philosophy
The memories of the bygone
The hopes of the yet to be
Everything we would believe in
The chicken, the egg, the story…
I left in the reality of you and me
And stepped into my imaginary.

Lost at the crossroads
Trying to pick a direction
Staring through the driving rain.
The heart skipping a beat
With each headlight approaching
And missing one when it’s gone.

She asked for a happy one
So here’s to the sunshine
Her blue eyes like the ocean
Smell of her just-bathed skin
Smiles that break the dawn
Glances that reach within.