We had winter fights with fresh fallen snow,

snow balls flying through the air with a zeal

couldn’t hurt anyone, lots of laughter.

On the news they talked about molotovs

being thrown against store fronts,

and in the streets the kids made their own.

Our world has not been turned upside down,

yet we have leaders that wryly beg to differ.

Guns in my life were blocks of wood,

with notches that held our rubber bands. 

We didn’t play with actual guns and rifles

that would simulate living with war.

My freedom is something I cannot fathom

letting myself, letting ‘us’, take for granted