The incident that inspired this poem may be obvious, and I expect the feelings raised by seeing my old public school playground equipment both replaced and condemned are just as evident. When the man said you can't go home again, I doubt he was referring to this, but it hit me hard. I can't really see Tom Wolfe on a swingset under ANY circumstances. Although I admit the image amuses me.
There is a sign on the playground at my old school Equipment does not meet minimum safety standards Approved by the government It is not my old jungle gym With tire swing and pirate ship potential Rather a modern attempt to drive imaginations That in my time ran free (or so I recall) No more shark-pit where you balanced and jumped And hoped not to fall in, where the shark Had recently been one of you
No There is silence and new pavement And windows with slogans - Teachers Care! And a sign on the playground Warning those who can read not to play My legs take me faster than I had ever remembered From one place to the next Through my memories But I have returned to a world Populated mostly Or only By sparrows
