When the World Was Smaller

There were days

when life fit into the pockets

of our childhood clothes.

Afternoons stretched forever,

and the sun felt like it knew our names.

***

We didn’t worry about tomorrow.

We only cared about the game we paused,

the friend who promised to return,

the sky that kept changing colors

just to impress us.

***

Somewhere along the way,

we grew into our shadows.

The world became bigger

and our hearts learned

the cost of remembering.

***

Yet even now,

a certain song,

a certain smell,

a certain street

can open a hidden door

inside the chest.

***

And for a moment,

we step back into that gentle time

when nothing was urgent

and everything felt possible.

*******