When I Was Seventeen

What happened to that girl I knew
when I was seventeen?
Is she just as pretty now
or have the years been mean?

Is she still the same sweet one
she was so long ago,
as gentle as a warm caress
that made my young heart glow.

I hadn’t thought of her in years.
She’d drifted from my mind.
Yet now she’s all I think about,
that girl I left behind.

Sometimes it seems like yesterday,
the memories are so strong.
When we were young and innocent.
Or have I got things wrong?

Was everything so simple then?
Or am I just confused?
If I could do it all again
I think I would refuse.

I made my choice and that is that.
You get no second tries.
Do what you can to live each day;
maybe tell yourself some lies.

Too late to make up for lost time.
Too late for what could be.
I’m left here with my memories;
that’s good enough for me.

For in my mind she’s still the girl
who was so sweet and pure.
I’m glad that she was in my life;
I couldn’t wish for more.

I hope that she still thinks of me,
yeah, every now and then.
And smiles with fond memories
when she remembers when.

When we were young and innocent,
before life got its way.
And in my heart she’ll always be
the one that got away.