When I was young; <br /> I climbed the clothes line pole, then <br /> I would pull myself up to the top of the house, <br /> run across the roof and leap to the ground. <br /> My feet burned with pain! <br /> But my older brother and sister were doing it <br /> so I did it again and again. <br />When I was young; <br /> My father moved us out to the woods. <br /> Where we lived like wild Indians <br /> in harmony with squirrels and birds. <br /> Even the mosquitoes ignored us, but <br /> they swarmed the weekend tourist. <br /> This made us laugh, because - that made us special. <br />When I was young; <br /> I saw the biggest, blackest, most gorgeous cat! <br /> I held out my hand and called, “here kitty, kitty, here kitty.” <br /> I tried to sneak up on that cat. <br /> The cat stood, looking at me, with big, yellow eyes <br />until I got too close, then silently, gracefully <br />turned to disappear into the forest. <br />When I was young; <br /> My mom packed up our camp. <br /> moved us to another campsite. <br /> To keep her babies safe, <br /> from my big, black cat, which she called “Panther! ” <br /> Told me how lucky I was, that he had not decided <br /> to have me, for lunch! <br />When I was young; <br /> I must have absorbed “Panther’s” spirit. <br /> It abides in me though none can see it. <br /> Made me strong, invincible, self-reliant. <br /> And gave me “nine lives! ”<br /><br />Emma Beverage<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/when-i-was-young-2/
