City On Lockdown

They tell me you were vast before
that you didn’t have walls blocking the view
They swore they could see the park and beyond
Lucky were the chosen few who saw the skies blue

They tell me I used to love to play
To hide behind the cars with my friends
And out came the memory of never wanting to go home
The wind catching my hair while falling down - the only thing my mind replayed.

They tell me stories of foolishness
They tell me stories of playing games where there was a thrill to survive
“I remember jumping the barriers of adjacent houses”,    said my father with a playful glint in his eye.
“I remember making your grandma mad
 I remember because I knocked up a beehive.”

They tell me they ripped the city apart One lane and town at a time“I wish I had a youth like you”, I say,“I wish I could press rewind.”

What I’d never believe is when they’d tell me you’ll be empty
But here I am seeing your leaves wither away
The people all holed up inside their comforts
This is one season, I wish, didn’t stay.

They tell me you’ll someday get back on track
You have to, you see!
I want the kids running and dogs playing and for the neighbours to meet and laugh
I want the subtle joys of life back.

I know it’s a city on lockdown
but the dilemma is -
I got a whole suitcase of childhood memories I’ve got to unpack.