Chiggers and mosquito bites,
briar scratches and rug burns,
scraped knees from bicycle 
accidents, blistered hands
and skinned elbows from
climbing trees.
Splinters and stumped toes
from running barefoot 
all summer long. Bee stings
and sunburns, earaches
from swimming and burst
lips from not catching the ball.
Band-aids and calamine lotion,
tweezers and Vaseline,
sweet oil and rosebud salve.
Nothing could keep me inside.
The woods called to me,
the trees needed climbing 
and all the small maladies
just part of the adventure. 

KW
6/19/24