Whatever Happened to Yesterday?

naked but for the regret
that tears freedom from
the hearts of
      the willing

and fearless, so they say,
are the ones who try
to succeed

yet merely preceding
the others
in the gravity that
      surrounds them
      holds them
      carries them down

betraying each with
the burden of time

as the precious ones
look on with envious eyes,
      slip silently
      from
            innocence

- Stephen Brodie