That's When Innocence Ceased To Be

That's When Innocence Ceased To Be Frilly dresses decorated with flowers Giggles that could melt the coldest heart Good night tickles and hugs and kisses Crayon colored pages of revealing art Displayed proudly on the fridge door Near the height measuring chart Flour smudged from head to toe while rolling out cookie dough Up to elbows in soap suds washing dishes at sink Playing dress up with mamma's jewelry and shoes Pretty dresses and her shawl of mink Tooth fairy visits before dawn's light The silver dollar found 'neath the pillow Squeals of delight High upon Daddy's shoulders In the crispy morning air Searching for the Easter eggs Left by the invisible bunny Treats hidden everywhere Watching from the bedroom window The darkness late on Christmas Eve Seeing Santa flying through the air On his reindeer pulled sled full of toys Now she really does believe The first wild flower bouquet presented To a cherished grandma The tears shed when it died The first tricycle, first scraped knee Taste of romance When with Joey she played the blushing bride Bringing home the hobo cat Wrapped in blanket silk trimmed Lengthy chats alone with her now brat cat Playing among fall leaves blown to freedom by autumn's wind Wiener and marshmallow roasts throughout summer holidays Overnight campouts under the kitchen table Covered in sheets that reached the floor Decked out in princess costume on Halloween Joyously trick or treating door to door Very first taste of a lollipop, ice-cream and once only mud pie Then came the day it all changed......... With the arrival of shame and guilt after telling her first lie