“Time it was, and what a time it
was. It was.
A time of innocence.
A time of confidences.
Long ago it must be. I have a
photograph.
Preserve your memories.
They’re all that’s left you.”
Paul Simon, “Bookends” (text grouping by KPM)
There are
only a handful of song lyrics that read as poetry, but I’ve always had an
affinity for this one. Some of the affinity is personal – this was one of my father’s
favorite songs, a song I once was summoned to the office to sing for him. From
a poetic sense, the theme is familiar and the homily obvious. But the
conversational simplicity of the writing and the unexpected balancing of ‘innocence”
and ‘confidences’ are full of aching nostalgia.
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