When I Was Young

When I was young, soul slate-clean Thinking myself immortal Long hard icy winters Freezing landscapes lasting months Snowmen carrot nosed, eyes of coal Children tobogganing, laughing with delight Racing downhill on upturned milk crates. Long bright adventurous summers Seeming never ending. Building tree camps in woods Playing cowboys and Indians Thinking girls silly Not liking football, frogs and mice Wanting to play kiss chase with boys. Weekly pocket money of sixpence Given by father for Saturday morning cinema Enjoying ice lollies in crowded stalls Cheering Hop-a-long Cassidy and Roy Rogers Booing black-hatted cowboy villains Sweets rationed, gobstoppers, fizzy saucers Bull eyes, sticky toffee, chocolate bars. Living in street with no doors locked Friendly neighbours ready to help Bank holiday day trips to seaside Brighton Paddling in warm sea, building sand castles Eating fish and chips from newspapers Chewing sticks of pink peppermint rock Brighton's name all way through. Cinema with family on Wednesday nights Hot meat pie each on way home Carried high upon father's shoulders Over field at back of our house. Mother's kisses, loving hugs Stories read by father at bedtime Precious memories when I was young.