When

When I was 6 or thereabouts
we didn't have air conditioning.
On hot summer's days Verna let me out
to play wearing only
white cotton underpants.
My friends too wore
white cotton underpants.
And we had contests to see
who could stick out their belly the furthest
and I won. And I was proud!
Now we have air conditioning.
It's been dreadfully hot.
But I wouldn't dare wear
white cotton underpants on the block.
I wouldn't even happily
go out to play.

Pam