When it'd rain and with eight of us kids indoors plus a few friends, it was up to me to give them all an outlet for their energies. This one always was a favorite.
on rainy days my siblings and I
we'd build a tent city and crawl in to hide
we'd use up all of Mom's sheets and the blankets
stock up with pencils books and our trinkets
there was eight of us children and I was the oldest
the pack leader...the tallest and even the boldest
i'd tell them ghost stories and use a flashlight
i'd moan with my voice...and ohhhhh what a fright
their eyes would pop out just as the thunder
puchuated the wee ones and they'd shudder asunder
the chill of the Autumn and winter's encroaching
with the storm of the season and lightening approaching
we'd hear the tick of the power then count on our fingers
cause lightning, you know, is miles before thunder
mom would say that God was there bowling
then the story would turn as the winds would start howling
then tall tales would change and we'd be on a boat
sailing the Greek Islands with a three headed goat
cyclops would peer over straits as we sailed
the sisters would sigh and the boys...they would wail
then I'd start rocking to make the high seas
some of my siblings would turn green and heave
then with a yell "princess, come get some old hats
"you're scaring the babies...you gotta stop that!".
then we'd costume our creative side and make up a play
then I'd direct our creations on those dark rainy days
children today don't make time for thinking
they're amused by the computer and gameboy's blinking
i'm afraid their creativity has gone with the wind
when in days of my childhood we learned to pretend.
It's raining here and I'm reading you. My first thought of a tent city is the mud when it rains. Tents are sufferable in good weather, but when it rains the mud permeates everything.
Thanks for sharing....we did this too....and they say each second between the flash and the thunder tells you how far away the stricking point is...and by the time the two are as one you get stricked by it like Paul Williams...he was lucky but coulda been dead today if it was a millisecond sooner!!
You make hay while the rain pours, in engaging, captivating verse that raises memories of our own dealings when we were stuck inside on less than perfect days. Well done!
Memory is what keeps us going. Yours are wonderful to read about.
This is good stuff for what ails us, and I thank you for writing and posting it. I'll carry much of this with me for days. - Bill
Reviewed by Andy Turner (Reader)
Reviewed on July 25, 2006
Being the sixth of nine I remember doing the same...
How true to life is this wonderful poem on the creativity of past generations. I feel sad for the children of this age to have lost the pretense in life that made for a rich upbringing with wonderful memories to fall back on. Great nostalgic write.
This is so wonderful and brings back poignant memories of my own youth and family of which I was a middle child in a pack of nine. The visual presentation in this poem is so effective I can picture myself under that tent with you. Well done Susan, well done.
This brings back so many warm memories of my childhood, My brother and sister and I used to build what we called "cover city" in our grandmother's living room, We used her chairs, blankets, end tables, and anything else that wasn't tied down, The only important thing was that we made it to where we were completely closed off from the rest of the house, Then we'd crawl inside, into our own little world and play and make believe and tell scary stories and stage puppet shows and anything else we could get away with, until Grandma made us take it down because we got too rowdy and made too much noise.
I dearly miss the freedom of my childhood and feel I was privileged to have grown up in a much simpler time. Heartfelt write. Reminds me of the Loggins and Messina song "House at pooh corner" Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh......... If only.......
Pierre.
Fantastic writing Susan!I love the way you recalled those times. I was the youngest of zix, and we did the same thing. Thank you for the mempories, and for the wisdom . There is very little imagination today, but kids will say the technology of the computer is all the imagination they need. Sad but true in this cyberworld.
Reviewed by Kate Clifford (Reader)
Reviewed on July 24, 2006
Ah imagination isn't it wonderful? One of the first signs I would be a writer is I would spend hours telling my little brother stories. I would tell some of them so well that even til his late teens he believed many of them to be true :-)
My granddaughters seem to have inherited our families imagination but I am concerned about my grandson. He lives for the computer and he is not even 3 yet!
Yes, this poem did take me back to those 'Tent City' days filled with imagination in the moment with my friends... 'when in days of my childhood we learned to pretend.' Bravo!
many children today have never learned to use their imaginations ... they live in a world of bytes and graphics, draining themselves of creative energy ...
an important message and a potent reminder ... your imagery is excellent ...
Enjoyed returning with you to 'tent city' then made a quick trip back to the rainy day happenings at our house which always included a session with Mom at the old upright piano.
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
Let this coming of age story of a boy named Bean take you back to a simple time. Set in a small southern town in the 1960's, encircled by a river and gleaming white cotton fields.
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Ron
Love Tinka
You make hay while the rain pours, in engaging, captivating verse that raises memories of our own dealings when we were stuck inside on less than perfect days. Well done!
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
This is good stuff for what ails us, and I thank you for writing and posting it. I'll carry much of this with me for days. - Bill
Fee
I dearly miss the freedom of my childhood and feel I was privileged to have grown up in a much simpler time. Heartfelt write. Reminds me of the Loggins and Messina song "House at pooh corner" Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh......... If only.......
Pierre.
Allen
My granddaughters seem to have inherited our families imagination but I am concerned about my grandson. He lives for the computer and he is not even 3 yet!
an important message and a potent reminder ... your imagery is excellent ...
Our modern day kids are now playing with modern day toys...
Just like us adults...
The Net...:)
Peter