For The Love Of Village Life

Cherry

By skinner_jennifer

Tue, 14 Feb 2023
  • 4932 reads
24 comments
 

Dear diary...

 

From heart of Shire where I was

born, no rush to grow away from

black and white memories; those

sinuous lanes I knew well, are now

following spectrum of colours

that harvest wealth.

 

I'm caught in drowsy simplicity

of adolescent dreams, relentlessly

unwavering like swiftness of

flowing streams.

 

Though friends were not steadfast

through many years, memories still

stand in awe: sometimes growing

clearer...fertilizing mind, helping

me assess perfect specimens of

reflections, now quenched before

vanishing.

 

I'm reminiscing – meandering

along many pavements from the

past, recalling Life Boat Inn

where rowdy men on Saturday

night socialize while supping

pints;

 

crossing road to aroma of fish and

chips, devoured by leather clad

bikers who hang around chippy,

before achieving a ton-up down to

Severn Beach, while girls in fish

net stockings chewing gum were

more consumed by Beatles and

Stones.

 

Young working class lovers stealing

kisses away from streetlights, not

able to find other ways to seal their

good nights; before turning key...

tiptoeing up to bed, avoiding creaky

stairs that might wake mum and dad.

 

From worn out windows where cracks

lurked, gaps under front door, wind

creeping in, whistling an eerie tune

along wrinkled cracked walls; depicting

long eared monsters that seemed to crawl.

 

Hearing Sunday morning chime of bells

swinging in the sixties, observing all this

through sands of time. It all may seem

common place to some, but I'll never

forget that time back then.

 

 

A picture in words of Shirehampton

village where I grew up in the 1960s,

that even to this day holds a special

place in my heart.

 

 

Certificate 12
Poem
Dear Diary
Biography
Love
Inspiration Point (work that responds to our weekly writing cue)
Journal
Autobiography

Comments

Submitted by marandina on

Shirehampton sounds a special place. I enjoyed observing those memories with you through the sands of time, Jenny. Always a pleasure. Paul 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Paul,

It was such fun recalling those memories. Living through the 60s in our village, it felt comforting to know friends lived so close, and those little moments that didn't really stand out at the time feel so important now.

Thank you so much for letting me know you enjoyed reading, it's always appreciated.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Mark Burrow on

Hugely evocative and loved some of the descriptions. I really like the line about friends not being steadfast, but you still cherish the memories and the times had. It's struck me that memory does seem more important & richer as we grow older. Thanks for posting.   

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Mark,

glad you found this poem evocative. When you're an adolescent it feels like friendships will last forever, but sadly we all move on eventually, but I'm glad to have fond memories. It's so true that those simple little episodes mean so much more the older we become.

I really appreciate you reading and I'm glad the poem resonated with you.

Thank you so much.

Jenny.

 

 

 

Submitted by Jane Hyphen on

This is like a time capsule Jenny, crafting from words a picture which we can all see. Somehow our depiction of past times seems more innocent than today's world but I don't know if that's actually true or we were just more naive. The pubs were certainly much more important and they all had 'rowdy men'. I'd love to step into your poem, just for a few hours.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jane,

I'm glad you thought it was like a time capsule with words. I wish now I'd taken photos of our village back then, it would have been amazing to capture a scene to go with my poem. It's always at the back of my mind that maybe one day I'll loose my memory, which is why it's so important to record these moments...if only in a poem.

I did get the pub name wrong, it wasn't the Hope & Anchor, but the Lifeboat Inn, which I've now changed. I do recall one guy carrying the juke box out of the pub once and dumping it on the road, he was very drunk at the time, I don't know if he got banned, but he certainly created a scene.

Pubs like you said were very important meeting places, for all kinds of people. If I can recall women were'nt allowed in bars in the 1950s, only the lounge, but I'm not a hundred percent sure of my facts. Us kids used to go to the off licence and get bottles of coke and crisps. 

We had everything in that village and had no need to go anywhere else for food or goods. It was my world right up until I started work at fifteen...apart from holidays of course.

Any way I'm rambling, something I could go on and on about.

Thank you so much for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Insertponceyfre... on

oh it is just like a time capsule isn't it! Beautifully painted Jenny - thank you!

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi insert,

It's always a pleasure to share memories on here. The I P once more has done the job of inspiring me.

I often wonder where the years go, time seems to fly by so fast. Love that you read this poem like a time capsule too, it feels like yesterday when I vision the scenes in my head.

Many thanks for reading and letting me know you enjoyed, always appreciated.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

From worn out windows where cracks lurked, gaps under front door, wind creeping in, whistling an eerie tune along wrinkled cracked walls; depicting long eared monsters that seemed to crawl.

Our parents' generation had it tough after the war didn't they? But gradually the notion came that standard of living, housing, decor, acquisition of luxury items must increase constantly as a ritght without too much 'making do', and waiting and working hard for self and others. Good reminder. Thank you. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Rhiannon,

you know we never had much and lived in a condemned cottage, but the one thing we did have in the village was community spirit. You're right our parents did have it tough after the war, which is why what they did have they appreciated more. 

I always remember the wind whistling through our cottage, the sound always used to scare me as a young child. My imagination would run riot seeing monsters in cracks and paint pealing off the walls creating images.

Of course we were lucky enough my dad got a well paid job in a paint company, so we were able to get a morgage and move up to a better house, not everyone was so lucky.

I'm grateful to you for reading and your input which I appreciate.

Thank you.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Thank you so much for those cherries Editors, they're always uplifting to recieve and give me a boost of confidence.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Magnolia Fay on

Truly evocative of a special atmosphere. Thank you for transporting us with you to another place and time. 

Magnolia Fay

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Magnolia Fay,

the pleasure was all mine. I'm very happy you liked this poem and thank you so much for letting me know your thoughts.  

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

absolutely loved this :0) Thankyou so much for your wonderful memories! You make me think how Life had so much more texture before, I wonder if memories made by young people now will be of playing online in flat worlds created by computer games graphics. I was trying to explain to my son about frost patterns on windows the other day, he was horrified, but though they involved being very cold even indoors they were magic, too. Making everything more comfortable has a trade off I guess. Anyway, I agree with Jane and Insert that reading this is to be plunged back in Time, lovingly described and richly evocative I felt I was there, too

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hello Di,

you know you're absolutely right about making life more comfortable has a trade off. Those frost patterns always remind me of Christmas designs on windows. We actually had some back in that cold spell...I think it was in December, when it got so cold our boiler broke down and left us with no heat or hot water.

I too wonder what children of today will remember about their childhood, but I suppose not knowing anything different they'll have their own stories to tell. 

I'm so glad it was clear enough that I could plunge you back in time, that makes me very happy. 

Thank you for your in-depth read which is always a pleasure to receive.

Jenny.

 

 

 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

As everyone has said, this so wonderfully brings a time and place to life. Such beautiful phrases - among many, I was very taken with the bells 'swinging in the sixties'. So clever! Lovely writing.

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi airyfairy,

those Sunday morning bells swinging in the sixties just seemed to click in my mind, they were the one thing you could rely on, glad it worked for you. 

I know I've said it before, but I really do wish I'd taken photos of our village back then, imagine it would have been fun to share.

Any way thank you for stopping by to read and letting me know you enjoyed.

Many thanks.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by Kurt Rellians on

I did enjoy the poem too. It really does show your memories of time and place in such a personal way.

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Kurt,

the many buildings I used to attend are now gone. The picture house us kids used to go to on a Saturday morning is now luxury flats. The old swimming baths and our old Victorian school are now houses. The old Victorian building where I went to Sunday school was knocked down. But good old reliable pubs are still there...The Lighthouse Inn, and the George still exist. Of course Woolworths has gone too now, a place I have fond memories of playing at the back in the lane.

It's nice to know you found this poem interesting and thank you so much for letting me know.

Jenny.

 

 

Submitted by celticman on

a heart song, 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Jack,

what a lovely way of describing this poem, I never thought of it as a song...but it did come from the heart.

It was great to get your comment and thank you for reading.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Yutka on

I was walking with you through long years of Memory Lane where magic converts all those rays of light and shadows into a beautiful tapestry loved and appreciated throughout the years. What would we do without those memories!

from Yutka

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Yutka,

it was such a pleasure to receive such a kind comment. You really managed to capture what I was trying to convey with your words. I'm glad I could take you back with me, and thank you so much for letting me know.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Yutka on