Memories
There was fear in your eyes when you would
get lost as a child.
Fear that you would never see
Mommy and Daddy again.
PANIC
would rack your small body
and leave your heart
Beating,
Beating,
Beating
so hard,
so fast
that you were a little bomb
ready to explode into
shaking, uncontrollable tears.
Shadows crept up from corners
you scarcely noticed before.
Looking up
the whole world was above,
looking down at you
so close to the ground.
Would you run around
frantic?
Darting from
place to place,
aisle to aisle
hoping for a sign
of love?
Did they know you were gone?
Did they miss you?
What if they didn’t?
What if they didn’t?
What would you do?
What could you do?
Sometimes you would look up
through eyes misted
and see other adults
look at you with pity.
Once in a while
you would get a sympathetic face
asking,
“Are you lost little boy?”
“Are you lost little girl?”
They would always know the answer wouldn’t they?
All they had to see were your eyes,
Your cheeks flushed red
and know.
You would nod
and this kind stranger
might take you by the hand
to where your parents could be found.
How did you feel when
they would say your name
or those of your parents
over the loudspeakers?
Were you relieved?
Ashamed?
As they came up,
Worried,
Relieved,
Wondering where you had been,
How much did your little heart leap?
Did you promise yourself
to never leave their side again?
Walking away
how tightly did you hold their hands?
Could you have turned carbon into diamonds?
You’ve never forgotten that
have you?
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