Before the Tide of Time Bears Me Away

I wish I had more money and more time
So I could give away a thousand books
And I wish I were funny in my rhyme
Each time to bring a thousand faces looks
Of delight to bring light into this gloom
Which hangs like stale smoke in a dark barroom

It would be so nice to brighten things up
To read my poems entertainingly
On the street corner and have a tin cup
So passersby could leave quarters for me
I find I cannot always be funny
Just as the sky is not always sunny

But I know I would if only I could
Prevented as I am as you can see
As black and white give way to shades of grey
For me as for you some bad and some good
Some laughter and some tears in my brief day
Before the tide of time bears me away

Still using such means as I have I strive
To make the most of my being alive
Life is good and I would be understood
As someone who tries to make it better
Embracing the spirit by the letter
Fighting the bad while embracing the good
Every day in shades of grey I would be
The best I can be one man being free

+Steven Curtis Lance



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