The Innocents Reigned

As my legs stretched longer

My tender heart and child-like mind had a hard time keeping up

As my legs gave off a false personna

They insisted I give up on the fun

They said big boys don't color or eat animal crackers

My heart would break more than once

But as a young boy, I could never find my voice

Now I sit at the top of Wall Street

I miss the days of X's and O's and games of tic-tac-toe

I miss how Cracker Jacks would mix with the sweat on my face

Creating a sticky mask back when Turley was king

I remember how the grime of the Brooklyn sidewalks felt as it dug into my already skinned-up knees

And how Etta James sounded as she spun around the old record player

While the needle wore dull

As my mom danced across the kitchen floor, the old broom her only dance partner

At 69, sitting here at the top of Wall Street

I realize growing up is not all they promised

I wish my legs wouldn't have grown so fast

I wish I wouldn't have listened

I wish the Innocents still reigned