There had to be a last time
I jumped into a heap of leaves
Sinking into its crispy, crackling cushion
There had to be a last time
I stared wide-eyed at the sparkling Christmas tree
Or held a ladybug in the small palm of my hand,
Holding my breath so it wouldn't fly away
There had to be a last time
I belly-flopped into the icy pool
Splashing and laughing
Until my fingers looked like raisins
And there had to be a last time
I pretended to be someone I'm not
just for fun
Or danced
just because
Or twirled round and round till the world was
just a quickly passing blur
All this silently slipped away from me
And now I've begun to miss it
For the first time