Get Your Premium Membership

The Child In You

Jumping, running, whirling, spinning, laughing. They are tumbling now, down, the hill, into the leaf pile. A handful of leaves are thrown high in the air. The child soul of you wishes that you were down there rolling in that pile, But you know you cannot be. Not anymore. Not like you want to. Your torn ACL Your arthritis Your equilibrium Your sore shoulder And your neck ache holds you hostage, watching, remembering, The child in you wants to jump and run and whirl and twirl in that leaf pile. Twenty years ago you would be in that leaf pile, rolling and laughing The fear of breaking something, or reinjuring your knee holds you back for a second. Then the ornery takes over. Watch out! You yell! I’m coming! You lie on the ground and roll about an inch. The grandchildren howl with laughter. And you do too.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 11/5/2018 11:21:00 AM
Me too; all of it; don't you hate it that your body end up decades older than your child mind? I remember those days...sometimes I break the rules, as well.
Login to Reply
Krutsinger Avatar
Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/5/2018 2:24:00 PM
I keep saying to myself "You cannot do it! Don't do it!" and then more often than not I find myself in a lot of pain because my child-self jumped out of that tree anyway.
Date: 10/30/2018 5:28:00 PM
LOVE it!! Look out- here I come!!! *jumps in leaf-pile, too*
Login to Reply
Krutsinger Avatar
Caren Krutsinger
Date: 10/31/2018 12:10:00 AM
Of course fear cannot hold me back forever!
Date: 10/30/2018 12:42:00 PM
Ah yes, let your 'child soul' out to play! Though I don't think I would, too afraid now of spiders and bugs!
Login to Reply
Krutsinger Avatar
Caren Krutsinger
Date: 10/31/2018 12:10:00 AM
hahahahaha Spiders. Bah! Bugs. I eat bugs!

Book: Reflection on the Important Things