The Old Days

'To be wishing the same song for them, as I sung.'

- love the last line Chris! Hope you don't feel TOO sorry for me :p

Magic xxx

Good work Chris! Particularly liked "Bikes that had engines concealed in our lips".

Excellent stuff! Love the last line too - this is MY childhood! Fantastic!

Need to rethink the punctuation in stanza 5 - no commas needed between 'sandals' and 'weren't' and 'range' and 'were' - put it between 'strange' and 'And shorts' and lose the semi-colon in the last stanza.

Nit picking over because I love love love the poem!

J x

Lovely Magic, how could I feel sorry for someone who writes so perfectly - anyway it is obvious that you were 'born old' as you write like someone on at least their 3rd life ;) Thanks for reading, glad you liked!

Chris XX

Thanks bob. I wasn't called 'Motor Mouth' for nothing LOL ;) Thanks you liked!

Chris

Jen; my saviour! Did as teacher told me and it's all the better for it. Thanks for the advice and feel free to nit-pick all you want. This couldn't be 'your life' for your far to young and gorgeous to have ever been as daft as I. Glad you enjoyed and much appreciate the help. ;)

Chris XX

Ah, I grew up in the country. My bike was a motorbike and horse, as were fences and trees...and my own two feet! We played cops and robbers, cowboys and indians, Bond (grew up on Connery-era Bond on the telly) - I had cap guns an' all! Bit of a tomboy, y'see! Was never really interested in tea parties and dolls!

And I still have red plastic jelly shoes!

J x

I too identified with this, although I grew in the tropical north of Australia. But bikes, cards in spokes, Robin Hood and cowboys and indians were all part of my childhood too. The evocative power of this piece took me straight back there. Thanks, mate.

Cheers D. They were simple but happy times - and not a computer in sight lol. ;)

LOL Jen, I forgot to fit the cap-guns in; they played a big part, along with, "Oi, I said BANG! Your DEAD!"
I unfortunately lived through the Connery era on the big screen. I remember my Dad bringing me to see 'Thunderball' at the pictures (The ABC in Woolwich). My first real film (if you don't include Norman Wisdoms' 'A Stitch in Time' LOL. Thanks Tomboy!

Jeez, a cherry! Thanks so much ;)

Yes, yes, yes! I identified with all of this. And how:-) Brilliant stuff, that said it all ... and some, in your own inimitable way.

And my jelly shoes are orange, by the way.

PS I just noticed you mentioned Norman Wisdom. Now HE IS my screen idol. You can forget James Bond ... well,almost.

Tina xx

I agree Tina, I am trying to get some on DVD for my younger ones; I know they will love him as much as I did. Fun for all the family; sadly not to many like that around these days. Glad you could identify Tina; wish someone had filmed it so I could show it to my 8 year old, whose philosophy is; If I can't plug it in, it isn't worth the trouble! Lol.

Chris XX

i love this! fantastic work.

jason

Lovely flashback Chris, :-)atb L

LOVE Norman Wisdom! My Mum used to video his films for me! Haha!

I am sure you can get them on DVD!

My Mum used to use my cap gun for scaring the cats out of the garden..and do you remember those little rolled-paper snaps? - you threw them on the ground behind people and they jumped a mile at the bang!

J x

Thanks Jason and L. Glad you liked ;)
Jen, I remember them well - many the 'clip in the ear' they cost me too. Does anyone remember the rockets; plastic ones with a little spring at the top and space for a single 'cap'. You threw them up in the air and they landed with a bang. I see marbles AND Water Pistols are making somewhat of a comeback too. Jeez, I'm getting all nostalgic LOL. ;)

If any of you have not read Jason's (Curse of 222) work; GO DO IT NOW! He has some great stuff up. Thanks Jason; will continue to search out your work.

Chris

i'm honestly floored. i am pleased you like my work and it is very encouraging to get this kind of response. i am so happy to be part of this community of creative, critical, and uplifting writers. kudos to all of you!

jason

I remember cap guns and potato guns (we called those spud guns). I remember having a cowboy set; a hat, sheriff's badge, a kerchief and two cap guns, complete with holsters. I thought I was Gregory Peck in 'The Gunfighter' (a favourite old western). I went looking recently for a similar set for my youngest nephew and, while I was able to find the costume, the guns no longer came with caps. In fact, I couldn't find a single cap gun anywhere.

Good Lord D. 'Spud guns'; how could I forget? ;_)