5 & Dime, Black & White

5 & Dime, Black & White 

I grew up in a 5 & dime,

black & white world, 

where there was only 

coloring between the lines 

and those annoying shades 

of gray were not even 

thought of, just steady 

stays the course, 

no monsters lurked 

under bed, in closet 

or outside. I was free 

range, mobile, going 

wherever my Schwinn 

would take me, 

and these legs never 

wore out then.

Slowly at first, 

then like lightning 

exploding inside 

of a tiny square box, 

it all changed to seeing

the world no longer 

in black & white 

but in technicolor,

where there were 

no lines to color within, 

only blurred boundaries 

left for me to choose 

just where to color. 

Strong legs of youth 

have come to this, 

abandoning the feet 

to pedal path. 

I grew up in a 5 & dime, 

black & white world, 

where there was only 

coloring between the lines…

©Paul Goldman June 1, 2022

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