the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me...

Years have passes since we graced the playground as younger, firmer hearts.
Although our hearts were not carrying much else other than pocket money and playtime, we all had such promise. We all held such potential.
We were funny, daring comrades in a world surrounded by baking and giant trees that now seem so much smaller.
Gentle voices, napping in a curtained room, pretending we were animals of a different nature in cares made of tables and giant blankets.
We were told how we came to earth, a myth later demolished by the natural process of growing up. But it stays with us.

We all took up hobbies. Some of us were far more comfortable.
We'd try, and quit.
But we'd try harder, quit better.
Does it really seem so far away? I beg to differ.
It seems only yesterday we were children. We were naive and unstable.
But we all held to each other, to songs and rhymes and handshakes.
Even through the most difficult of times there was hope.
We are a proud, hilarious faction--some of the finest fighters this world will ever see.
We hold our heads up high and titter under hung heads of forged shame.
There was a fumbling of lips and fingers (there always are),
but we soon found our blood was better resembled in humble, deeper friendships.

And so we sail.

We have left the docks!
Our sails swell with future wind which is so strong.
We are afraid, and excited, and our bodies bubble with the unexpected.
Some of us find ourselves meeting.
Hello there, I did not expect to find you here.
A familiar face is enough. So we may continue with courage.
With a much harder faith we may continue to sail,
knowing our friends' ships are not far away.

-Steph Wardle
December '11