There was a time

When all was

Jumping

Giggling

Screaming at

 And avoiding

The cracks in the pavement

Never thinking of

Looking back

 

There was a time

That all that mattered

Before mortgages and bills

Aches and pills

Was

Running

Through trees

Across fields of grass

Three foot high

Over gates

Jumping streams

Never asking where

Who or why

 

Going full pelt

Down the beach

Chuckling

Splashing

Crashing into waves

Falling

Floating

Until we were

At last tired and exhausted

With sand in our shoes

 In our Hair

And those hard to get at spaces

Behind our ears

Or even harder to reach crevices

In unmentionable places

 

Dried

Baked

And fried

In an eternal summer

It would take a dozen baths

To wash it all away

 

There was time when

Dreams were made

Of make believe

Custard creams

And snot

But these were times

When you and I

Knew each other not

 

Now there are times

When in our hearts

And in our minds

We can still do all of the above

But this time together

Right now

At a more sedate pace

After all there’s plenty of time

It’s not a race  

We have got our feet

Firmly on the ground

 

But the last one to reach the water

Buys the first round!