This is How it Was

Today I was looking at a yearbook from forever ago.
I looked at all of the smiling faces.
Faces of my friends back when we were innocent.
Back when we were all virgins.
Back when we were all friends.
Before high school and teenage troubles had corrupted us
and turned us against each other.
Back when we didn't need to be perfect.
Back when drugs were bad, stealing was wrong, and sex was gross.
Before obscenities became a part of everyday language
and we knew nothing of racial slurs.
Back when the color of someone's skin didn't make them an enemy
as long as they were willing to play.
I was looking at this yearbook
and as I was looking into the eyes of every face on every page
I suddenly longed to relive those days again
and again and again and again'

Holly K. Whitesell