Three Long Afternoons

I saw you were standing there
a fistful of sand said you’d never leave from this place
where we had played for three long afternoons.
The broken sticks were bent and covering
a roof of gold we’d had imported from Spain
let’s keep on playing for three more days…
And you saw me like a starling swimming
through the leaves they’re turning
colored shades and you turned me into yesterday.
Armed with an oath, «I am no enemy»
they’re hiding with swords and waiting to break at the seams
but I can see right through their cloakscreens.
So take my hand and take my bow
and string a straight line that will let them know
that we’re piling sand up round our home of gold…
And you flew me like a firefly lightning
in the eyes it’s bursting
into flames and you burst me into yesterday.
Now the bell is ringing for you to be leaving this day with the moonbeams
moonbeams
hide me there, ‘hind the stairs, ‘till the next day,
we’ll cover our eyes ‘till we know we’re safe and away.
And you flew me like a firefly lightning
in the eyes it’s bursting
into flames and you burst me into yesterday