Monday Muses

Prompt: childhood

every young child's laugher or cry
overheard on slate sidewalk or
in front of a brownstone standing tall
brings me back to a time
that remains all but pushed to the back of my mind
the smell of rain in the morning
and the first time i walked to school
or sticky hands from ice cream
ducking away from the papery napkin
mom holds out to me
the dull thud of a soccer ball in the park
and the rush of the game that we won, 8-0
or the way the moon looks at midnight
and when i stayed up late
to see the stars
and then i blink
smile
and move on