Our Childhood

I.

Racing bikes with failed brakes into trees

Plunging into algae-infested ponds while

Attempting to stifle laughs without ease

II.

Rocking out until our fingers grew coarse

Belting out until our voices turned hoarse

Rapping half-known words with force 

III.

Staying up beyond the wee hours

I, pretending to gush over boys you mention

You, pretending to believe my retention 

Never feeling a need to cower and hide

With a friend unashamed of what’s inside