Circle Game

Yesterday a child came out to wonder

Caught a dragonfly inside a jar

Fearful when the sky was full of thunder

And cheerful at the falling of a star

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We're captives on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look

Behind from whence we came

And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game

Then the child grew ten times 'round the seasons

Skated over ten clear, frozen streams

Words like 'when you're older' must appease him

And promises of someday make his dreams

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We're captives on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look

Behind from whence we came

And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game

Sixteen Springs and sixteen Summers gone now

Cartwheels lost to car wheels through the town

And you tell him "Take your time" it won't be long now

Till you drag you feet to slow the circles down

So the boy who dreamed tomorrow now is twenty

Though his dreams have lost some grandeur coming true

There'll be new dreams, maybe better dreams and plenty

Before the last revolving year is through.

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We're captives on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look

Behind from whence we came

And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game

And go 'round and 'round and 'round in the circle game