Longing

A nine year old boy

Crouching behind the wall,

Lifted his little heels

And peeked at the girls.



A few feet away

Was a creaky, creaky garden

With rusted slides and swings

And three girls between them all.

With dirt-smeared cheeks

And ragged torn frocks,

They played in that creepy place-

All smiles and laughter.



Hiding behind the boulders

Of the wall near the girls,

The boy longed for the freedom

That the girls had preserved.