Memories of Childhood

Most families struggled when I was a boy

But they all stuck together through thick and thin,

With a sense of belonging, neighbours weren’t shy

A door never locked would invite them right in.

No television we played on the street

There was no passing traffic, no fear of cars,

If you visited town you used your feet

Or cadged a ride on a mates handlebars.

Our house was quite draughty, full of cold air

Frost on the inside covered the glass,

Heaters with paraffin flickered and flared

Acrid fumes from the oven – before North sea gas.

Life was just fun, There was no doom and gloom

We enjoyed our freedom, on streets that were clean,

The whole of the outdoors was a giant classroom

Each day there were wonderful things to be seen.

There was no Health and Safety, Kids had no rights

Corporal punishment doled out quite freely,

We were all taught discipline, even in fights

Purple stains of iodine would mark a grazed knee.

Pensioners were safe, walking streets at night

No graffiti on walls, vandalism rare,

Politeness, good manners, passed down as a right

Respected our elders, and took good care.

Food was quite wholesome and freshly cooked

No fridges those days but lots of good baking,

Bread and beef dripping would get us all hooked

Sugar sprinkled on bread, there for the taking.

Too soon my first schooldays were looming

A disruption to my innocent youth,

I thought my Teachers were most unassuming

Though probably too young to notice the truth.

Girls did handstands against playground walls

Skirts neatly tucked into navy blue knickers,

Boys played marbles or kicked airless balls

Played ‘flick’ with tea cards or swapped latest stickers.

We didn’t have kit, P.E was done in your vest

and underpants, with bare feet or Woollies pumps

Girls removed outer garments and did their best

To master the sit ups, push ups, star jumps.

After which milk was forced down panting throat

Still warm from defrosting by hot radiators,

Teacher stood and watched – clad in a warm coat

As we shivered in undies, we were no Gladiators!

Visits by the nit nurse would break our routine,

Forever in a hurry, she was ever so rough,

I always had head lice, though my hair was clean

Went home with a bottle of foul smelling stuff.

Had Polio vaccine – spread on sugar lumps

While measles and rubella would take their course,

Never treated German measles or the mumps

But dentists were the worst, they showed no remorse.

Yes, we lived our lives through freezing cold winters

But come Summer the sun shone every morning,

Skinned our knees, climbed trees, gathered splinters

Without global warming or Terrorist warning.

So those were my days, when I was a boy

Forever the memories are here in my mind

When the sun always shone in the morning sky

And the neighbours were thoughtful and kind.

Those days I wish I could bring back again

Days of love and sharing – no heartache or pain.