The Chain Link Fence

To my childhood friends, who made our neighborhood our kingdom.

Let's walk next to the chain link fence 

The same shade of green as the trees beyond

On the bridge over flashes, brimming with danger

In the palm of a sun that knows our names. 

Walk with me as far as you can. 

I want to hear the sound of your shoes

Clicking over the rough, gray canvas

That we covered in chalk long ago. 

You don't have to speak. 

Just crinkle your brow, like always, 

When your blazing eyes meet the sun's stoic form

And you contemplate a world much bigger than mine. 

Walk with me by the chain link fence, 

Past our kingdom of grass and sun-baked brick

Past our vast battlefields and elegant ballrooms

Past our pool of shed tears and spilled apple juice. 

I pray that you'll catch the twinkle of our sparklers. 

I hope that you'll cling to the ice cream truck bell, 

So that our reign can last long, long after

Our footsteps are ghosts that haunt the sidewalk. 

Author's Note

I hope you enjoyed the poem! I'll be posting a new one every Monday and Friday. Thank you so much for stopping by, and have a great day!

Reviews

[Misery]

Nicely done, dear poet.
It has subtle hints of 'Where The Sidewalk Ends', but instead of the sidewalk, it is the footsteps that end. Unique and creative.

[Elisa]

Why thank you dear poet! Your words are so encouraging!

[Misery]

You are surely welcome.

[Matching Socks]

Trips down memory lane can be so wonderful, provided the memories are good, as they are here.
Nicely done.

[Elisa]

Definitely! Thank you for reading!

[Matching Socks]

You're welcome. :)

[Dark Poet]

I love this. It bring back a lot of childhood memories. Very good:)

[Elisa]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!

[CA Anurag Sharma]

lovely write.... there is so much innocence in this piece... enjoyed it... :)

[Elisa]

Thank you! :D

[Jamie]

'To my childhood friends, who made our neighborhood our kingdom' I love that! This is such a beautiful piece of work and a pleasure as always to read your work! :)

[Elisa]

Thank you so so much!

[Jamie]

You're welcome :)

[AmjadPenboyoflight]

This ring poetic truth
we think much of childhood

I am glad you had childhood of freedom
it is how should be as free woman

no chains like in Somalia

[Elisa]

Thank you so much! Yes, I feel extremely blessed.