Happy Birthday

For Afra:

Little children, wild and free,
We played and laughed and ran.
Dressed by our parents and loud as can be,
Banned from playing on the 7th floor.

Little children and childish games,
Swings and slides and stunts
We played with dolls and skipping ropes,
Reporting home by 7pm.

Little children and notes under doors,
Shouting from balconies too,
Running games and rock pit houses
We really tried it all.

Little children, sliding down wet slopes,
To lift tag and playing in the rain.
Kent-Vale tag and capture the flag,
Irritating hardworking students.

Little children, noisy and bold
When the security guards were our best friends!
"Big fat gorilla" and the strong Indian guy,
We must have seemed so strange!

Little children, discovering love,
The Westlife and Backstreet Boys craze
From secrets and crushes, to liking the same guys,
How did we even stay friends?

Little children, growing up,
Painted nails and playing sports,
Jogging now to keep in shape,
And busy-long days at school.

Little children-not so little anymore,
Somehow managed to stay close,
Neighbours, friends, confidants,
Just a wall between the two families.

Little children, grew up too quick,
Seventeen years now past.
An adult at uni, back where it all began,
But this little child will never forget...

Happy Birthday!

Nyamedo A.D.