The Circle Game

Yesterday a child came out to wonder

And caught a dragonfly inside a jar

And fearful when the skies were full of thunder

And tearful at the falling of a star

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

Painted ponies go up and down

Were captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look

Behind from where we came

And go 'round and 'round in the circle game

Then the child moved ten times 'round the seasons

And skated over ten clear frozen streams

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

And promises of someday make his dreams

And sixteen springs and sixteen summers gone now

And cartwheels turn to car wheels through the town

They tell him, "Take your time, it won't be long now"

'Til you drag your feet to slow the circles down

And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

Painted ponies go up and down

Were captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look

Behind from where we came

And go 'round and 'round in the circle game

And so the child 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

Painted ponies go up and down

Were captive on the carousel of time

We can't return, we can only look

Behind from where we came

And go 'round and 'round in the circle game

And go 'round and 'round

And go 'round and 'round in the circle game