The Three Me's

I'd like to steal a day and be

All alone with little me,

Little me that used to run

Everywhere in search of fun;

Little me of long ago

Who was glad and did n't know

Life is freighted down with care

For the backs of men to bear;

Little me who thought a smile

Ought to linger all the while —

On his Mother's pretty face

And a tear should never trace

Lines of sorrow, hurt or care

On those cheeks so wondrous fair.

I should like once more to be

All alone with youthful me;

Youthful me who saw the hills

Where the sun its splendor spills

And was certain that in time

To the topmost height he'd climb;

Youthful me, serene of soul,

Who beheld a shining goal.

And imagined he could gain

Glory without grief or pain,

Confident and quick with life,

Madly eager for the strife,

Knowing not that bitter care

Waited for his coming there.

I should like to sit alone

With the me now older grown,

Like to lead the little me

And the youth that used to be

Once again along the ways

Of our glorious yesterdays.

We could chuckle soft and low

At the things we did n't know,

And could laugh to think how bold

We had been in days of old,

And how blind we were to care

With its heartache and despair,

We could smile away the tears

And the pain of later years.