Chasing bicycle tires with a stick or
Chickens between the vegetable rows
From nearby, fragrant tomatoes rush to your nose
My, how quickly Grandma’s garden grows
Spying on ants as they do their thing
Playing Cat's Cradle with Mom's cooking twine
"Don't do that anymore! I told you for the last time!"
Hopscotch, Double Dutch or Jacks on the corner
Using pebbles and a blue rubber ball
Pick them up; let’s finish quick
Here comes our neighbour Saul
He’ll eat anything if it looks like a gumball
The last one almost choked him to death
But he hasn’t learned his lesson yet
All of us, forever reluctant, the first to leave
Mom says to me when I walk in late
“You think you grown!” (Yes!)
“The sunset is there as a reminder to come home!”
And every now and then, when the sky turns red
I remember our ingenuity - that particular skill
Because when you’re small, anywhere you can play
Anytime is fine AND anything can be a toy
This was a joy to write!
© 2024 Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.