My Childhood
By David McHattie
I saw a child on a play yard swing
And my soul soared with fervent joy.
As precious memories came flooding back
To when I was just a boy.
When on a sweltering summer day
My shirt and shoes were often first to go.
Since nothing had a better feel
Than the cool grass between my toes.
The swing, the slide, the monkey bars
Where sweet Helen stole a kiss.
When at the time… seemed most unkind
But now has earned a storied bliss.
The many games of British Bulldog
We played to the edge of a summer light.
Till our Mother called a second time…
We were forced to bid our friends good night.
Blow pops, pop rocks and bottle rockets
Were the well earned cause of tooth decay.
While any nutrition laced with vitamins
Were still lost to future days.
My bumps and scrapes of minor wounds
Were left to heal on their own.
While the deeds that caused such battle scars
Were merrily born with sated groans.
But my mind can barely fathom
How such treasured times have gone.
But such is how the march of time
Keeps our memories safe where they belong.
I wish I had the bearing
To have made those moments last.
But sadly such is not the case
So they happily languish in my past.
The End
