BLISSFULLY IGNORANT

Prairies golden with the forgotten promise
of a dream rendered useless by years of training
running around barefoot on land
owned by others.
Twisted, winding roads that led to adventures
with Vikings and Indians where every branch
was an enemy and every tree a fort.
Sloping hills we slid down, escaping
winter's bitter grasp with laughs
and giggles
and songs sung at twilight.
Sitting for a sunset or two
forgotten under the old oak tree
that was our North star and that
never failed to lead us wherever it was we went.
The summers of that childhood tainted by
immeasurable amounts of sadness bespeckled
with flashes of undiluted happiness
that washed them away.
Now standing before the veil
that unveils
remembering what it was like
to live blissfully ignorant
and facing the barrel of a toy gun
reminiscing with bitterness of
scatter-brained plots to capture the flag
and never be caught.
Recalling those afternoons spent hand in hand
touching earthworms and running away screaming
and swimming in the frozen lake we always hated
but could never resist
and lying to watch the stygian skies
making wishes we didn't understand
waiting for the perfect moment –
second star on the left and on 'til morning.

7/8/10