Old Life Adieu Poem by Mark Heathcote

When I was 9yrs old, we moved house, upped sticks
Leaving the city for the countryside
I was brought along like the candlesticks
Unwanted baggage, I was petrified.

With nervous excitement, I said goodbye-
'Old life' and welcomed a new beginning.
I'm going to climb huge-oak trees and pry-
Into nests, my insides were now grinning.

With my heart pumping, jumping out of my vest
I'll chase brown butterflies and dragonflies
And like Huckleberry Finn, I'll digest
The stars, the streams, the forest as it sighs.

Wasn't this going to be an Adventure?
On arrival, it was my dream come true
No parents or dumb teachers could censor
Old life adieu - off to the fields I flew.