THE CHILD

CLUB AWESOME

I remember a time

When I was free

To be exactly who I am....that’s me

When I only noticed
The very essence of the spirit
Of the friend playing with me

Elaine, Ellen and Marilyn

We all used to play with ease

Completely free.....just to be

Sometimes we would play

At the “haunted house”

And eat the wild blue grapes

Or share sleepovers

Dreaming of our prince charmings

And our grown-up fates

Holding hands and giggling

Barbies, dolls and bikes

Birthday parties with chocolate cake

These wonderful friends of mine

Never an ill word said

Ah....the days of being “just me”

Then one day at school

A girl asked me why

I carried my purse that way

My world it changed

That girl had told me

I had to "be" a certain way

The first stone I remember

One of many to fill my backpack

Mine to have and to hold

Then one day we moved away

To an unfamiliar place with

Sticks and stones a plenty

And I became the ugly duckling

The one who forgot to look

To see the beauty that grew inside of me

Fast forward......40 years

All grown up....my sleepy inner child

Was awakened by a “Spark”

And I was able to clearly see

With hoola hoops (we were such troops)

Carol, Christine, Debra, Linda

and 'lil ole me

We stepped outside our bubbles

We danced among the trees

And we talked about hopscotch

We planted strawberry fields

Listened to enchanted stories

Etched in sidewalk chalk

Now I remember when....not that long ago

When my heart was open wide

Free from any judgements....I can see inside the real me

© Sherry Irvine – July 4, 2013

HERE I AM

c'est moi!

Ellen and I - my Dad being crazy in the background

Ellen is watching me :)

Elaine - in the polka dot dress (at right)

Marilyn....So wonderful to see my longtime friend again.

Christine - the human sparkler

Carol - a flower in our garden

Linda - angel behind the smile

Debra - the spirit of a huge happy hug