When it was, it all was real,
today it is a shadow –
the lush green grass, a lonely cloud,
the daisies on the meadow –
When it was, it all was real,
but felt unreal to me –
then how much more unreal today
when I’m across the sea?
When it was, it was: It was!
Today it is a dream.
A dream that sweetens present days
with its soft, warming gleam
A welcome, numbing dream I dream
when the present seems too real;
when it was, it all was real –
today it’s just a dream.