Poem: I was five
December 15, 2021
I was five
& my friends would ride bikes
& I would run
Chasing their laughters
I’d fall
Scrape a knee
& Grandma would
Blame the rocks
For my wound
& tears
I was five
& Grandpa would teach me to swim
& I would run
From the boredom
Of kicking my legs
On our old flax sofa
And jump
Straight into the pool
Carelessly
While he smiles
& shakes his head
I was five
& the snow would fall
& I would run
Into the knee-deep coldness
To build myself
A best friend
Who’s there for me
For two
& a half days
I was five
& my aunt would cook
& I would run
Into Mother’s arms
Put my freezing hands
Onto the warm, white heater
Stained by
Drops of coffee from
Last autumn
I’m not five
& the clock still ticks
& I don’t run
‘Cause they sold the house I grew up in
& I no longer have friends to chase
Or swimming lessons
Or warm heaters
Or snows in my hometown that would last
Until the next sunrise
But I was five
& I would run