It was strangely like a scene from Terminator

A preschool playground

I metaphorically said I’d pass by it later

The place closed down for a few years because of COVID

Today I passed it by and it seems it’s reopened

I pedaled past it on the way to work – the building next door

The screaming toddler in his black jacket standing there was reinforcement for sure

And on the way home, the little blonde kid in the plastic box car swiveled his head as I rode by

A woman in the center of the playground clapped

I wanted to fly

I do wonder who those kids will grow up to be

I didn’t stray too far from my Terminator playground

I run past it sometimes and hear the children’s sounds

It’s funny how childhood comes back around

I run and ride my bike

I do the things I like

But boxcars and monkey bars, screaming kids weren’t for me

Sarah Connor was my role model

Let a young girl dream

I’m late 30s but still going full throttle

I’m working on my pull-ups and my ponytail

Hand me a gun and some sunglasses

Anything else is pale

And I know time passes

A chain-link fence can’t keep me in

So long, kids on the playground

Maybe we’ll see each other in the end

For now, for me, there’s something greater

I gotta keep pedaling, in my black tank top

I don’t have time to stop

And don’t know if I’ll be back later