Saturday 16 February 2013

I Remember...

A street in the city where we used to play.
Few cars to bother us, we'd frolic all day.
Hopscotch on pavement slabs, skipping to rhyme,
Or ballgames, or running, or just killing time.

If we "popped" to the shops, we would leave the door wide
In case family dropped by. Well, we'd nothing to hide!
There were two corner shops, where they knew us so well.
So, if we misbehaved, then they knew who to tell!

The walk to the playground (which we called "the rec"):
When there was traffic, mum would hold us in check.
Then, through the cemetery, dad would let us run free.
He knew we'd be safe in this sanctuary.

Angel statues to guard us, trees arcing above.
It was like being wrapped in a blanket of love!
Across the main road, through the gate to the park.
Then running again, to the swings. What a lark!

The climbing-frame beckoned, so I gave it a try,
But I'm fearful of heights so can't climb very high.
My brother was dauntless. A true lion-heart!
He would scramble right up to the highest part!!

Then onto the roundabout, spinning like crazy
Till we felt really giddy! The whole world was hazy!
The slide was such fun! We would land with a bump!
The rocking-horse - with four seats on it's rump!

We had little money, but those days were sublime!
I now and then wish I could travel through time,
Back to those days when the world seemed to glow.
Those halcyon days in the long, long ago.