hopscotch and hide and seek;
secrets whispered and make-believe;
princess dress-up and truth or dare;
cross your heart and pinky swear.

now slipping through my fingers
all the time.

growing up, it’s not a crime-
but i feel empty as you fall and
slipping through my fingers-
i grab and hold on tightly but

you’re slipping through my fingers
all the time.

dipping in and out, here today
but not here to stay;
round and round the carousel
in a broken poetic rhyme.

you’re slipping through my fingers
all the time.

like catching bubbles breaking,
and raindrops dissolving,
with my heavy heart aching;
autumn leaves crumbling to no more
and snow melting and
ocean waves dying at the shore…

no matter how hard i try to stay and attempt
the mountains to climb;

you’re slipping through my fingers
all the time.

i remember, best friends; you said-
you’ll hold my hand,
we’ll cross the playground bridge together
and chase each other endlessly.

but like grains of sand falling,
it’s the way of things to end and pass by…

my best friend
until the end;
but no more pretend-
there’s an end to every rhyme and

you’re slipping through my fingers
all the time.