Black and White Dreams

I watched a strange movie last night
Or maybe it was just a strange dream.
There was no color, just black and white,
But every bit as real, or so it seemed.

I took a seat in an ornate chair
Of red velvet fabric and gold trim.
Looking around, not another soul anywhere.
A moment later, yellow lights went dim.

Flashing to life, the projector casts
An image without hue, but a familiar scene.
I recognize the character in sharp contrast.
My God, is that me up on that screen?

Black and white dreams, grainy images of the past
I can leave anytime, but it all depends
Regrets are forever, and memories don’t last
Walk out on a movie, you won’t see how it ends

Here’s a young boy with goofy grin and wide hair.
“Pay attention, I’m going to tell you a story.
Watch what happens, lest you not care.
It’s all about you, a true life inventory.”

He casts a slight smile, then lowers his head,
“You’ll have to watch this without me,
It’s too much for me to see,” he said.
And so affixed was my gaze on all I would see.

Scene after scene, smiling through the tears
As my reminiscion played out on the silver screen.
Images blurred like minutes to the years;
I couldn’t look away, it was all so unforeseen.

Black and white dreams, grainy images of the past
I can leave anytime, but it all depends
Regrets are forever, and memories don’t last
Walk out on a movie, you won’t see how it ends

I was ready to leave and just abandon my seat;
I couldn’t take anymore, I just wanted to leave.
When the boy exclaimed in utter conceit,
“Here comes the best part!” Now I couldn’t leave.

Then came the part of the movie yet unseen,
The telling of my fortune and what it would mean.
But the film broke and all that could be seen
Was the death of a life on the silver screen.

I didn’t walk out, I stayed to watch it all
But the ending is the same: unknown to me
Wake up
Wake up

Black and white dreams, grainy images of the past
I can leave anytime, but it all depends
Regrets are forever, and memories don’t last
Walk out on a movie, you won’t see how it ends

Black and white dreams, grainy images of the past
I can leave anytime, but it all depends
Regrets are forever, and memories don’t last
Walk out on a movie, you won’t see how it ends