Devoted to small businesses and those who run them

Beyond the Backyard

Ó 2000 Rosemary O'Brien

Used by Permission.

Some of us

one day

realize we cannot go back. 

We find we have grown

beyond our childhood borders

while our playmates have remained

in their backyards,

inside the gate

that their mothers once told them not to go beyond. 

They took Mom's command and

carried it with them

through their self-restricted lives,

growing ever more fearful of exploration

beyond the backyard. 

Those of us

who have long since opened the latch and ventured out

enjoy ourselves by

playing in other yards

and

peering into other people's windows

until we discover 

we have lost our way back. 

We become nervous. 

We shade the sun from our eyes,

look behind us toward home,

but our view is blurred

by distance. 

We are not sure of what we can see. 

We crane our necks and

stand very still

hoping a breeze will carry a familiar scent or sound

 - a familiar something -

that will lead us back. 

But nothing leads us back toward home. 

We are saddened a bit

until we turn and face forward and continue walking. 

After a while we lift our heads

and are once again caught up in our adventures.

It is then that we know for sure that

we are members of

the some of us who belong

beyond the backyard.