Way Back Then
Like a little puppy, how I would run and prance
The first time I got to wear long corduroy pants
Knickers was the wear until reaching eight
They have been out of fashion since that date
The girls in class wore neat little dresses
Hair of ponytails and long curly tresses
Everyone was friendly, no one was mean
Words were of encouragement, never obscene
An open window would keep us cool
That was air conditioning in our school
No car, no bus, nor a simple mule
Get there by walking that was the rule
The rain turned dirt into a brown liquid mush
That would ooze between my toes like melted slush
Oh what a feeling that was to a young boy of ten
So many memories flow from way back then
A penny would buy me lots of things
Five of them was what happiness brings
We shucked the corn and shelled the peas
And our dear little hearts always said please
The picture show cost a whole thin dime
That was the entertainment at that time
There was the radio with stories and song
Which we would listen to all night long
No super market with its shelves of food
General store furnished the things we chewed
Our water was pulled from a dark deep well
My brother said at the bottom, there lies hell
Missing Church on Sunday was surely a sin
That's what they taught us way back then
Dreaded Polio appeared to be everywhere
The iron lung seemed to be the only care
But by the grace of God we all survived
Then one day in December WWII arrived
Everyone flew into action to do their part
Patriotism and sacrifice came from the heart
Rationing was a hardship but we didn't care
Support of the country was everywhere
The war raged on like it would never end
Every day we would pray and then pretend
[...] Read more
poem by Robert Beck
Added by Poetry Lover
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