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Time Long Gone

• Posted by Tamera Currington January 6, 2019 - Poem  - 1,714 views
  Saw some ivory soap today
  Made me think about a time long gone
  When
  You played outside until the street lights came on
  And
  Mother May I was game not a prerequisite to a question
  When
  Your neighbor could whoop your tail if they caught you acting up
  And
  You thought about talking back but words never left your lips
  When
  Granny’s house was the final destination on a Sunday afternoon
  And
  you knew to leave the room when grown folks were talking and no one had to ask
  When
  Summer afternoons were filled with bike rides tree climbing while chewing on a piece of lemon grass
  And
  You chased the ice cream truck down the street for a snow cone
  When
  Red light green light was for more than just cars
  And
  Putting all your dukes in didn’t incite a war
  
  Life was simpler then
  
  Tasted like bubble gum ice cream on a hot sunny day
  
  Smelled like the chlorinated pool as you jumped in for the first time
  
  Felt like the rush of excitement as the last day of school came to an end
  
  Looked like family reunions, holiday gatherings and cousins that were your best friends
  
  Sounded like the big red ball hitting the pavement as you yelled OUT during the game of four square
  
  Life was
  
  Hoping your mother got off the phone so your friend calling didn’t get the busy signal
  
  Wishing he’d check YES instead of no or maybe on that note you passed him through the three people sitting in front of you
  
  Simply put, life was
  
  It became whatever you sought to create it
  
  Today we merely exist as we strap ourselves down into this hamster wheel we call life
  
  Floating from one project to the next
  Smelling the roses but not becoming completely overwhelmed and intoxicated by their beauty
  
  So jaded that a human being can lie dying on the concrete and you’ll extend your phone to record before you’ll extend your hand for help
  
  I long for the days of old
  
  For easy bake oven, strawberry shortcake He-Man I haaaaave the power type of moments
  
  And
  Impromptu soul train lines on Saturday mornings
  When
  knowing the function of a conjunction was top priority on every kids list
  And
  You saw butterflies in the sky but knew you could fly twice as high
  
  Saw some ivory soap today
  Made me think about a time long gone
  
  And for one moment, one split second I was there