There was bread baking on the hearth <br />Acker played ‘Stranger On The Shore’ <br />There were all manner of wondrous things <br />All of them now no more; <br /> <br />I played football in the street <br />And read books in bed with a torch <br />Drank fizzy orange from the ‘pop man’ <br />Left muddy wellies in the porch; <br /> <br />Ate my favourite mince and dumplings <br />Hated cheese and fish <br />Stuck together bits of model planes <br />In efforts distinctly amateurish; <br /> <br />Refused to wear glasses <br />Even though extremely long-sighted <br />Ran home from school with my report <br />My progress and shortcomings highlighted; <br /> <br />None of these things I do any more <br />I have left those lovely times behind <br />But how I wish I could go back <br />For one hour to let the past unwind; <br /> <br />Savour once again those boyish moments <br />Spent with dear Mam and Dad <br />I could tell them again that I loved them <br />From the heart of their little lad<br /><br />Paul Gerard Reed<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/before-i-grew-up/
