Somehow I knew better
when I was a child
because of stuff I didn’t know
about ticks hiding in piles of leaves
and
feral cats freezing to death in the winter.
Back then
I knew only
that autumn Saturdays
promised romping about carelessly
and
the stray cat on the playground would
always be my friend.
Oh, how I long
to know again
of
carefree moments
and
nature’s gentle love.