In the days of my youth, the way we lived,
In simpler times, our youth we'd give,
Living on #bolognasandwiches and
Skipping stones Once, twice, thrice
We rode in pickups, wind in our hair,
No #bikehelmets or #sunscreen
not a worry, not a care.
No #waterbottles to carry on with.
On the tater totter's teeter-tottering beam,
Underneath the endless, sunlit gleam,
The asphalt was our safety net, so fine,
We laughed, we played, in days so benign.
Three-degree burns on that metal slide,
Yet with fearless hearts, we'd never hide,
We body-surfed down our staircase,
Adventures are boundless, in that special place.
On rooftops high, we'd gather, we'd dare,
Beneath the stars, with the cool night air,
No #airbags no #seatbelts we'd ride free,
With youthful spirits, we danced with glee.
We inhaled #secondhandsmoke, it's true,
A different world, the skies weren't so blue,
Sunburns etched stories on our skin,
In the golden summers, we'd revel in.
Mercury thermometers, our parents held,
Innocent times, where tales are seldom quelled,
Sports drinks from hoses, a thirst to appease,
In the backyard, under the ancient trees.
Siblings as babysitters, close and dear,
Station wagons, playpens, so crystal clear,
In the rear window, we'd lay our head,
In dreams of adventures, our hearts were fed.
Fathers let us drive, their trust we'd gain,
Cooking unsupervised, amidst the rain,
No fence around trampolines, we'd soar,
Innocence and freedom, forevermore.
No cell phones then to contact us afar,
We lived by the sun, the moon, each star,
At 10 PM, the TV's message would impart,
"Do you know where your children are?" in every heart.
In the tapestry of youth, these memories we weave,
In the way we lived, we laugh, and still believe,
Though times have changed, our spirits are strong,
These moments in our hearts, forever belong.
Roaming, surveying, exploring, discovering, Living, Learning, laughing…
