An endless summer
That drew us out from mildewed flats
Into photographs taken at barbeques
When shadows lengthened out
And our city burnt under crisped out sunshine
A quality of light we never knew again

Endless roads that looped and ran
Past houses where we partied
Friendships formed and fastened into lifetimes
That stretched out, front and back
Forward into unknown worlds and thoughtless cares
Back into pasts that we once shared

Nights that never ended
When we climbed through broken fences
Drank wine at midnight in strangers’ houses
Made pacts and false pretences of perfection
Called our sophisticated turn of phrase
A European affectation that we brought back with us

Conversations without end and cigarettes smoked
Until hoarse, we ran out of words to say
And how we laughed
Our youth, all that vigour and vitality
That we brought back
In that year when we returned