Sometimes I wonder what has happened to life.
When days used to be so very simple.
Why did those times disappear?
Times when quietness was common.
Growing up with friends-
a child’s dream is for it to last forever.
And now, a friend is hard to find.

Remember building a tree-house or fort?
We skipped pebbles across a still pond and
sometimes played ‘hide-&-seek’ with the other neighbor’s children.
Lemonade stands and smiles on faces were common.
A ‘puppy-love’ romance made a kid blush.
We carved our love heart into a tree.
Yes- so many good days to remember.

Some say everyone is a child inside.
Then, why do some adults behave so irrational?
Now that we’ve grown up, we see that
a confusing world is very common.

You shouldn’t always hear
what’s going on around you.
Stay open-minded and please-
keep in touch with the calmness around you.

Escape with me to a common quietness.
Love me like you used to when we were young.
Hold me like there is no tomorrow... please.
Touch my cheeks... and wipe away my tears.

I don’t want to grow old alone.
I only want you to know the real me,
and I the real you-
like the times when we were kids;
when we both knew the real us.
Then our lives together will continue to be common.

Let’s not dwell on the bad in life.
Let’s have our picnics in the park,
or on the beach, or wherever.
Let’s get drenched by a rainstorm sometime.
Let’s engrave our names into every tree
to symbolize the love we feel for each other.
The smiles, we’ll keep having;
and for the rest of our lives, enjoy our common peace.

Marcas B. Sterling
Feb. 13, 1992