Reflections

There was a time when I believed
In laughter and knew what it meant.
Such moments, now, are sloughs of past,
The touch of joy evanescent.

Each visage is etched with greed,
Truth has died, lives on Pretense.
Trust...Faith....hell, who are they?
Lost is the meaning of Innocence.

Life's tempest has drowned all passions,
Dreams are buried in the coffin of Sense.
The soul is dead, though the heart still beats -
I've learned to look through Motive's lens.

The sands of time will bury all pain
Though the lexicon will remain devoid of Cheers.
Hey, have I changed? No, I still laugh....
But now I laugh to veil my tears.