In Response To Belle’s Challenge

 Youth In Retrospect

 WWII’s children flourished without

rationing and sacrifice were derigueur

joy dangled from assignation’s bracelet

 despair paid many visits to our door

transients dieting on hunger’s plan

they supped with us, garden veggies

fried chicken if a hen could be caught

 privation walked the small town streets

 Christmas toys, one in good times

birthday parties not, perhaps a cake

child of May made it too hot to bake

 until my teen years life knew love

yet offered precious little worldly goods

 illness lived in my body often and long

roller skates and bicycles I had not

 digging holes to China in the backyard

my diversion from toys and entertainment

 no lament for I knew much happiness

wrapped in the golden paper of imagination

 at eleven death knocked loudly at my door

months where bed, a doctor’s office

were my shared residences void of joy

 ‘til the hand of providence intervened

healed slowly, my vision of youth changed

 a sense of normalcy blanketed me

with confidence of better tomorrows

mid teens approached bringing hope

I gained perspectives and thrived

with glee as possibilities ranged wide

growing up claimed me in its arms

 at fifteen I knew life as the joy

that it was surely always intended to be

growing up, a tenuous time recalled

May 16, 1942