There Once Was A Time
There was a timewhen we didn’t need boyfriends
we didn’t need to be kissed
we only needed to have our friends
Remember when we played Indians
with names like Blue Feather
and it took forever to set up the teepee with rags
but it was all worth it…until we had to clean up
when we were runaway slaves
escaping our cruel and evil master
when plastic swords were awe-inspiring
but if we dueled, they snapped in two
when we slipped into English accents…
and slipped out again
When the word “do”
and the word “it”
carried no filthy connotations
Whatever happened
to the excitement of Christmas?
I used to be so eager for the tree cutting
for the cookie decorating
for the house adorning
for the presents growing under the tree.
Snow was once so magical
there was never any argument
about sledding whether there was
one inch
or one foot of the lacy ice
Sled until our mittens were soaked through
until our faces were brilliantly flushed from the cold
until our hair had chunks of snow hanging on it
until our toes were numb
and we went in
for hot chocolate
or cider
And now?
Now we feel the need
to have someone to kiss or more
to have friends but not over a sweetheart
to hang out instead of having a playdate
to call everyone all the time
The only time we can playact
is when we act in a play
or when we pretend to be someone that we are not
to fit in, they say
Every word has a double meaning
at which we must giggle all the time
instead of simply accepting as it’s meant
We no longer anticipate Christmas the same
and while we want the day to come
for fun and for family
we care not for the decorations as we used to
We stay inside when it snows
because it’s far too cold
though we sled sometimes
we do not stay out long
And when we are hurt
we mope for days
because it hurts far worse than it ought
What happened to our old wonderful ways?
With all my heart, I miss the good young days!
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