A curly headed little thing she was. <br />Brown skinned sunshine lover <br />big eyed and freckled; <br />a tomboy who could climb higher, <br />bat harder and swing the ropes <br />braver than any of the boys. <br />She hadn't yet kissed one <br />missed one <br />had her heart broken by one <br />been leered or whistled at. <br />She was just one of the group, <br />one of the gang <br />one of the guys <br />no different than the rest. <br />That was before time stole the innocence <br />before time muddied the swimming hole <br />and rotted the swing; <br />before life got so complicated <br />and buddies of youth meant everything.<br /><br />Carolyn Brunelle<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/that-was-before-2/
