Poetic Asides Tired

No Sleeping Pills Necessary

As kids, we’d run barefoot

through the grass,

over bridges,

and even pebbled drives.

We’d play in the creek,

roll in tires and boxes down hills.

We’d hike

and bike

and swim

and roller skate

and swing on grape vines

and fling crabapples at each other

and explore the hills, creeks and woods.

We’d play ball, badminton, and croquet,

chase fireflies and capture peep frogs.

We’d play Statue, Tag, and Hide and Seek

and pretend we were on the old shows,

Gilligan Island, The Man from Uncle, and Star Trek.

We’d sled in the winter,

and build snowmen and snow forts

and have snowball fights.

We’d get roped into garden work,

washing cars, raking leaves, gathering nuts.

And when our heads hit our pillows at nights,

no counting sheep for us.

We’d know nothing till morning.