Childhood Memories

Robin wrote an inspiring post about growing up in the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. He said we were all so free in those days, before the "lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good".

Thought I'd share my version, not the govt regulating bits, but just those hazy days of childhood, where there were less complains.

Bruised from cycling
Ached from sprinting
Sprained ankle from football
And screamed 'yea yea' from rubberband thrill
There never was a complain
'Bout life, nor existence.

Washed my own shoes
Scrubbed plates till they squeaked
Sang Karen Carpenter
And then Barbara Streisand
There never was a dull moment
Till Karen died, of course.

No piano class
Nor phonics class
No Kumon
Nor least swimming lessons
I always wonder
How I've become, a class of my own.

20 cents was a treat
50 cents would get a beat
From parents who earned so little
We ate porridge every day
I love porridge till today
But I can bypass, the Quaker oats, please.

Worked with Papa every Sunday
On all his 'moonlight' electrical runs
Sawing, drilling & whacking nails
All to pay for Bro's uni fees
Only to find out when it was my turn
My poor Pa, had no more money.

But we never once complained
All six of us at home
We lived and let lived
In those early dawning years
We never thought we were deprived
Only thought, we were different.

Those freedom days are gone
Where we could live without air-con
We have so much around us now
Till we forget what little means
I yearn for trees to climb
Only to be bruised, from concrete stairway climbs.