Because we could
gather together,
crushes
and
acquaintances
lifelong friends
and
those we’d never see again,
walk down the sidewalk
to the edge of the woods
wander across the bridge
rest on the grass
on the other side,
skip rocks into the creek and
quietly share our secrets
with each other
and the moon,
turn around to make our way
back up the steep hill
giggle relentlessly
shoosh each other and
snicker almost as loudly,
squeeze through the chain
climb to the peak
beyond the fence to
look down
at the city lights,
then
slide
down
the
embankment
toward
the
sand
toss marshmallows
across the bonfire,
pledge promises and
remember the good times
before walking
the long
narrow pathway
past the blackberry bushes
back to the beginning,
crash on the floor
exhausted
and wake up
to a new trail
with new
and
old friends
ready to start again
because we could.