Way Back When I Was Ten

A canopy of innocence, invisible to me hung over playful joy shielding all that would come to be. The world was mud and grass and trees, oh, puddles,swings and bikes shrieking, shouting, rampant running anywhere we liked. A watchful eye as we ran by from neighbours way back when our life we weaved in make-believe, way back when I was ten. Fights and tears did not last long if anyone fell out back to being friends next day, the rift forgot about. We romped and larked, new friendships sparked wherever we would hang our open door to rich and poor within our merry gang. No hatred spite or bigotry existed in us then for that was what the grown-ups did, way back when I was ten. I'd often wander by myself for hours through the fields and check the schoolhouse orchard, help myself to what it yields. Blindly unafraid, there were no barriers to me 'till twilight fell, exploring everything that I could see. No warnings from our elders about talking to strange men the world seemed a much safer place way back when I was ten. Just like my photo album, everything seemed black and white, a mother's touch could heal the world, make everything alright. Dad put food on table, Mum made sure our stomach's full safe in our family unit we all felt invincible. Sometimes I look around and think how nice to go again back to that summer bubble where I lived when I was ten. For contest 'Way back when I was ten', sponsor Kelly Deschler