In 1983, I wrote this poem about my friend Robert, and how we truly nurtured each other’s thoughts and feelings, and knew how to let our inner child out to play. Every day, we took a walk to relax after our college classes got out. Robert, my mentor, went over what we had studied so I could retain the information I had learned, and he made it fun for me. Sometimes, we would relax by going to the library, choosing a book, and reading our hearts out. But, if we were near the swings in a park, we joyfully let our inner child out to play. It was the best way to relax and let go of all the stress from the day.

Those were sweet moments to recall.

Swings at Play

We looked across
The park that
Brisk, bright day.
We saw the swings begin to sway.

You looked to me,
And I to you,
Asking, what would you
Like to do?

I answered you
With a simple smile.

Let’s go play!
Let our child’s
Hearts play with desire

So we began…
We began to skip,
Then saunter.
Soon we were running
Carefree

And I,
I pranced,
Just to be me!

Dancing and swinging so high
Only to touch the silvery sky
Allowing the breeze to blow,
Forgetting my every woe

But then twilight came,
The sun began to set,
And no more could we play,
So, we played no more!

You can order my poetry collection, including this poem, here: Reflections of My Heart.

Original text ©2025 by Karen Lynn-Chlup. All rights reserved. Image by Brandon Couch via Wikimedia Commons.