Longing for the Yard

A reflection on youth's longing for freedom and adulthood's unexpected confinements.

Longing for the Yard


Young, the fence circled our grounds,
Freedom called from out of bounds.

When we set free the adult,
And entice the child to jail.
Firstly, the youthful exult,
Trading freedom to post bail.

Grown, I know which side is barred,
And none were there in the yard.

Author’s Note:Longing for the Yard explores the tension between youth and adulthood through the dual meaning of "yard"—both the childhood play space and the prison yard. As children, we see adulthood as a realm of freedom, free from rules and restrictions. However, as adults, we realize that the freedoms we sought are often replaced by new constraints—responsibilities, work, and choices. The "yard" in the poem becomes a symbol for this shifting understanding of freedom, from the carefree playground of youth to the confining reality of adult life.