Palms press to broken glass that sits on black top playgrounds

Tearing open tender flesh, the soles of shoes, and the hearts of children

Blood from scraped knees drips like tears on dirty cheeks

Soft laughter floats through the air with a hint of insanity

And aching fingers wrap around cold monkey bars

Sitting in a tire swing watching the clouds make loop-the-loops around your equilibrium

Tattered sneakers slam against hot pavement chasing dreams and basketballs

Then those happy days melt away like ice cream cones in August

When innocence is shed and maturity invades the mind