A Long Time Along
When I was five
And beginning to belong
Getting growed up
Was – a long time along,
When she was “a beauty”
In a silk sarong
Stretch-marks and wrinkles
Was – a long time along,
When he breathed baseball
His throwing arm was strong
Being cut from the League
Was – a long time along,
When the old millionaire
Traded with the throng
Outliving his youth
Was – a long time along,
Way back when farming
Was an option, not a prong
A big empty house
Was – a long time along,
When they were a family
And nothing could go wrong
Tackling health issues
Was – a long time along,
While the aged chief rambled
And sang his swan song
The past and its passing
Was – a long time along,
Why the warrior went away
Peace to prolong
And the day he would die
Was – a long time along,
When I, in my wisdom
Didn’t hear fate’s gong
The lesson and the leaving
Was – a long time along,
When He created everything
And the future was long
Turmoil and trouble
Was – a long time along,
When eternity comes
Will we say in our song
His pride and His promise
Was – a long time along,
Was – a long time along!
D.C. Butterfield
