When I Was Young (Not-quite literal translation of 'Quand J'étais Jeune')

When I was young
I wore all my selves
Like ballgowns-
Soft cotton naivety, glittering green mystery,
Every facet a stitch
Of the years, the beautiful influencing words.

Wholly content to dance
Along the halls of life
I remained- the masquerade
Seduced me, made me beautiful,
The darling of the dance floor.

When I was older
I exercised my charm-
The world was my lover,
I flirted like the butterfly
Who, perched upon a rose,
Knowingly tilts its gauzy wings.

But the lights, they grew dimmer,
My feet bled; our outfits seemed gaudy,
The music harsh, flowers faded, wine bitter.
Time had flown; the clock had struck the hour,
And, mocking us, stolen our youth.

Bewildered, we left the hall
Gathered our shawls, blinked up
At the solemn orb of the moon-
For once, we had nothing to say.

Now the hall stands empty, a secret
Of dust, of lingering scent, of ghostly voices,
Waiting for the new dancers
To sing, laugh, bring the place to life once more.

Some nights, in my dreams,
A young girl wanders the corridors,
Bright-eyed, intoxicated by the dance,
Repeating the steps in her head.
From above, the wan light of the stars
Caresses my abandoned silk slippers
And whispers:
You used to be happy,
When you were young.