Little Lorie

Night fall creeping

Late Sunday air grips my limbs as I pant down the sidewalk

 

Come on Da-wa

 

I never wanted to go home

Why did I have to leave?

Has time stolen her memory of my face?

 

Come on Da-wa

 

Her silly little giggle and my crazed laugh flood the park

Creek, crock, creek, crock, creek...

The rusty swing sounds as we push one another

Her gap gives her a heavy lisp as she calls

 

Come on Da-wa

 

Long ponytails and a nappy afro tangle in the wind.

Our mahogany skin melts in the sand box as we create castles of the unknown

Dingy Keds kicked off and we race to the yellow slide

 

Come on Da-wa

 

Seven year old hearts drop as mommies grab their purses to leave

Ignoring their calls, we rush to safety on top of the monkey bars

Because here we are invincible

Gripping each other by hand our impatient mothers struggle to tear us apart...

Helpless...

My dearest friend of two hours sobs

 

Come on Da-wa