The Boy Poem by Steve Caine

The Boy

Today I went back home,
Back ten years and nine.
To a place when buildings were larger than life,
and footballs breathed life into walls.

Carried home with long arms the French horn played badly,
and the bullies were the politicians of the day.
Bangers in handlebars and my lunch in a box,
Gym shoes in black and badly fitting shorts with legs to match.

The smell of printers ink, paper glue,
And the rolled up treasured Marvel Comic like a great baton in the back pocket!

Girls faces, and the fear of a kiss.
Boys running to trees, Dens and secret places out of their reach.
It all seemed like yesterday.
Today I went back home.