We now really understand

We were...

innocent, 

inexperienced,

young green shoots,

laughing at jokes we didn't get

the songs of the time we didn't care for

but now we think 

these were the soundtracks of our childhood. 

Chasing girls but we didn't know why

with our friends

class mates

best mates! 

We were sons and brothers

knowing little - but we discovered 

stepping out

exploring the boundaries.

We played football in a school  playground  - now demolished 

discovered cigarettes down at the park - now built upon

chased love - whatever that was!

We knew little

it's all now a long time ago

just memories.

This was our upbringing 

the place where good times were stamped into our hearts

the place that made us 

the place before the world

shaped us into what you see today

inflicting the scars that gave us wisdom.

We became husbands

fathers

some of us grandfathers 

complete in life

now putting our feet up

having watched our children 

innocent and inexperienced

young green shoots

laughing at jokes they didn't get

they stepped out

and explored their boundaries 

and chased girls

found love

a subject which

through them... 

we now really understand.