Bouncy Castle

Children learn to jump at two
they see a bed as a perfect spot
then it's trampolines
and bouncy castles
knees bent and up they go
up and down, up and down.

Laughter and giggles fill the air
soon they learn to tumble,
first flips then summersaults.

At the park the sounds
of children squealing
while jumping in a bouncy castle
while they wait for
family picnics and fireworks displays

but somewhere far away soldiers
offer their lives so
these freedoms of childhood
are available to those at home.

In total oblivion
the little ones bounce,
bounce, bounce and bounce
never knowing the names
of those who make the sacrifice.