simple times...

remember when it used to be so simple?
all it took were the words yes, no, maybe so
written on paper
when all love meant was
holding hands on the swings
kissing under the trees
passing notes in class
and "going" together
when did it lose its simplicity?
when we start letting the outside in
and letting others dictate our feelings?
bring back the days of writing letters to proclaim love
before relationships became carbon copies of bad rap songs
i'd take talib kweli's never been in love before and common's the light
over 50 cent's candy shop any day
when did it get so complicated
the process of liking and loving?
the respect for relationships are lost on the microwave generation
who want the now and don't think about the later
who allow anyone to trample over their souls
so that they can use up their bodies
who buy love instead of work for it
we've written love a dear john letter
and left it standing on an abandoned corner
without even a forwarding address
in order to settle for lust and the quick fix
the times of wanting, waiting, working, and courting
seem to be loss in the shadows
and to think that at one time-
paper and pen was once all it took...