Take Me Back

Take me back to the wonder-filled summers of my childhood.

Trying to find the perfect stick to dig for worms,

Not even a hint of wincing as they squirmed in our hands.

Take me back to the wonder-filled summers of my childhood.

The joy of making mud pies,

Lining them up on the porch steps to “cool”,

Pretending the scent of apple, blueberry, and cherry filled the air.

Take me back to the wonder-filled summers of my childhood.

The sheer exhilaration of rolling down steep grassy hills,

Landing on our backs in a fit of giggles

As we stared at the clear blue sky.

Take me back to the wonder-filled summers of my childhood.

Popping off the heads of dandelions and making flower crowns,

Watching in awe as tiny, black ants carried crumbs on their backs.

.Take me back to the wonder-filled summers of my childhood.

At the end of those happy days,

Caked in dirt and sweat,

Soaking in a lukewarm bath

Until fingers wrinkled

And the whites of our nails reappeared.