That Was Before Poem by Carolyn Brunelle

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