When the chalk leaves the sidewalk

when the dolls are donated to a younger gal

when the trucks are abandoned in the garden

we didn’t know our last time was going to be *the* last time

growing old comes at a price of innocence and naivety lost

we hopefully grow wiser as years go on

but once innocence is lost, it is never fully restored

the things I cheered with glee about in my childhood

are now only memories to reminisce.

I think growing up is overrated.

I don’t think we value ourselves and our time like we used to

that’s a damn tragedy

As I sell dollhouses of my youth just waiting for the day

to decorate my own home but this time, I pay the mortgage.

You never imagined those you went to school with dying at

the ripe age of 29

Not one of your imaginary friends died so why must you leave me

so soon?

Children are forced to raise younger children and the first generation

never figured out how to heal themselves so the trauma

is passed on to the next of kin and what do you have now?

More children raising younger children along with a circular

cycle of innocence lost all too soon.

…

If we could go back in time and play for what we now know

is the very last time, what would you do differently?

What would you keep the same?

…

Not all is lost, bring out those boxes of baseball cards and take the

dolls from the attic and bring to life what once was. The genuine smile on your face

right now indicates to me that you still are golden at heart.