With apologies to James Stephens' The ancient elf
Unnoticed the ancient elf grew old,
gay smile still upon his lips
for it
had no where else to go.
Bright mummers coat thin
transformed too often.
Thoughts turning a different way
from habit not reinvented.
Swift
forsaken but no longer sought
eagle winged but snared
in familiar paths
well trodden.
Days of quest and ballad past
recounted now to glowing embers.
ghosts of
fires long since burnt
bed made with forgotten dreams
wrapped about in
hollow words.
Grown old the ancient elf
passed unnoticed.
March 2004/Decadence
