When I was a little kid
I ate "Pink Panther" bars;
Ken Dodd and his Diddy Men
My favourite TV stars.
A plank across the barber's chair
'Short back and sides' Mum said;
Karate suit pyjamas
And a nylon sheeted bed.
Belonging to the "Tufty Club"
So not to get knocked down;
Out with Mum on London's "Tube"
'Going up to town'.
New "Clarks" shoes bought once a year
A machine that showed your toes;
Fiddling with my costume
When acting in school shows.
A plimsoll bag my Mum had made
I'm certain it was green;
With Dad on his motorbike
Hoping I'd be seen.
Roller skates strapped to my pumps
A red bike with white wheels;
Semolina, soggy chips
The horror of school meals.
Hand me down flared trousers
Shirt collars you could chew;
Boring Sunday telly
And nothing much to do.
Yellow penicillin
For when I was unwell;
Sundry trips to A & E
A smell I can still smell.
In the park, the witches hat
And a tall "pre-safety" slide;
On the platform of the bus
I'd always try to ride.
A tuppenny "Beano" comic
Was my weekly joy;
A "Johnnie Jackson" figure
By far my favourite toy.
A list of childhood mem'ries
Random and absurd;
There is a little piece of me
In every single word.
COPYRIGHT D M PAMMENT FEBRUARY 20th 2010
Comments
MistakenMagic | February 21, 2010 - 14:26
I love all the little details in this poem, David! Although I'm a little *cough* too young to remember all these things I can still relate - thank you for sharing this slice of your childhood ;)
Magic xxx
kheldar | February 21, 2010 - 15:39
Thanks for that Rebecca, I'm really please you liked it.
David xx :--)
shoe | February 21, 2010 - 16:37
This is so charming, oh I remember those pink panthers, and the flares, mine were often a bit too short! and those (flyaway?) collars, I always found Ken Dodd a bit scary though, actually, I still do!
whats tufty club?
kheldar | February 21, 2010 - 19:40
Hi Shirley,
Well... Tufty was this squirrel see, and the tufty club was the precursor to the Grren Cross Man.
Thanks as ever for reading,
David xx:--)