Fall In the Park

A new bike, paved track, falling leaves rustling about. The crisp air bites at our cheeks. Around and around. Now going to play for a minute. To slide, jump and run. Oh, to be six again. No cares, no worries. Learning through play. Making everything a new game. There's chase, puppies, duck pond and snails. Off and running again. Up the curved bars, across the swinging bridge to slide again. Haven't mastered the monkey bars yet, but she'll get there before I know it. There she is calling me over. I'll go and shoulder her across. The same one's she'll later get blisters from trying so hard. No swings here, but lots of space to run and ride. To ride her new bike. ~Rachel Marshall (27 Oct. 2011)