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...sigh 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 as lightning approached
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 up there merely bowling
Then the story would turn as the winds would start howling
Then stories 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 for high seas
Some of my siblings would turn green and heave
Then with a yell, "Susan...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.
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Reviews of "Rainy Days Indoors"
Reviewed by April Ortega (Reader)
Reviewed on January 2, 2008
My parents encouraged imagination while my school would encourage high expectations. Expectations that involved reading and writing. Now schools and parents only care about how they can get rid of the child for a few hours of peace. Awesome write.
Love ya, April
Wonderful write, brings back alot of memories. My brother and sister
and I used to build tent cities at our Grandma's house. Great illustration of the differences between my childhood and a childs world today. So sad that they will never experience being young in the ways that we did.
Well Susan I remember similiar experiences of my own childhood and I would have agreed with you that imaginations were lost except for one thing...
I went to visit my 4 year old granddaughter this morning and with all the toys she got for Christmas (four sets of grandparents) and guess what she and I and her grand mother played with...a box their dishwasher had came in with windows and doors cut out, paper cups for headlights etc...it became a house, a car, a bus...etc for the two hours we were there...lol so there is still hope.
...a form of communication lost to the virtual electronic generation...sad but true...a sense of imagination shared should never be extinguished even into reality of adulthood...for I believe...this is where dreams come to fruition. Never lose sight of your dreams...
John
Reviewed by LadyJtalks LadyJzTalkZone (Reader)
Reviewed on December 30, 2007
Perhaps they will not need to pretend. A good write and I remember some of those times in different ways. Good write. Lady J
Susan, your writing are full of great images to enhance this readers imaginations...this brought back many wonderful memories of being a child & we did the same things. We'd build a playhouse & play all day & I know Mother loved it because we didn't bother her...there was 7 of us. Your imaginations bring your poems to life and I love it!
You write the most beautiful descriptions
to your composed offering they bring back
memories of when i was a kid, also playing indoors
with sheets and blankets sprawled all over the place
making tents.
thank you for your wonderful writes
peace & love be with you.
oh my
great days, great poem, so vivid, gave me a smile, and yet a sadnes,because your observations about current childhood is true, but its the fault of parents and the times, we give them the toys......
my daughter is practally an only due the the 11 yr age difference in my home, she had her foot in both worlds, playing make believe with me and friends at times, but the electroncs were a stronger force........but now, she is 13 and her and her freinds LOVE role playing........all that Japanese anime stuff, they dress up lol go to conventions, apparently there are THOUSANDS of people of all ages into that, they connect, and make bigger clans of pretenders.......its very creative.....I am impressed
thanks for this write, i loved it
pax Anita
happy new year
i remember very similar times as a child--i also loved it when the power went out as mom would then play board games with us by candle light--i do agree, creativity and imagination i thrown at kids instead of allowing them to create it themselves
Oh, I was always terrified of storms growing up...there I'd be, looking out every window in the house before taking refuge in the basement (I miss them here in Texas...tornado alley). If a rumbler was particularly intense, I'd camp out in the room under the basement stairs. Had sleeping bag in there, and a flashlight. Wouldn't hear it unless it was directly overhead. LOL And now, I'm beginning to confront my fear, by writing poems and taking pics of weather. Does that mean I'm ready to chase? Not yet. But who knows? LOL As far as pretending, I used to pretend I was a famous ballerina...too bad I didn't have the moves. LOL The way I escaped was through reading: who knew that all these years later, I'd be writing poetry? Came full circle. :) Enjoyed reading this one, Susan, you knew how to make storms less scary! Wish I'd known that, then. LOL
Pretending is a game we all still practice. Shame that it becomes more real with passing years. Pretend all you want, it won't pay your rent, Boy. If you gonna talk the talk when you are an adult, you'd better be able to back it up with substance.
Walt
Reviewed by Jerry Bolton (Reader)
Reviewed on December 29, 2007
Haha!! I just bet you were scaring the bejesus outta your "charges," it's surprising you didn't turn into a womanish Poe . . . Cute write . . . You can release the clamps now . . .
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
A wicked Cajun Fairy named Robes Pierre entered the impenetrable Magical doll land of Sha Bebe. Queen Faustina, the ruler of the doll land, thought she had destroyed him, but he's back! Will the doll land survive his evil ways?
Love ya, April
and I used to build tent cities at our Grandma's house. Great illustration of the differences between my childhood and a childs world today. So sad that they will never experience being young in the ways that we did.
Love, Pierre
I went to visit my 4 year old granddaughter this morning and with all the toys she got for Christmas (four sets of grandparents) and guess what she and I and her grand mother played with...a box their dishwasher had came in with windows and doors cut out, paper cups for headlights etc...it became a house, a car, a bus...etc for the two hours we were there...lol so there is still hope.
Fee
John
Love Tinka
to your composed offering they bring back
memories of when i was a kid, also playing indoors
with sheets and blankets sprawled all over the place
making tents.
thank you for your wonderful writes
peace & love be with you.
Susan I wish you and your family
A Happy New Year
William
great days, great poem, so vivid, gave me a smile, and yet a sadnes,because your observations about current childhood is true, but its the fault of parents and the times, we give them the toys......
my daughter is practally an only due the the 11 yr age difference in my home, she had her foot in both worlds, playing make believe with me and friends at times, but the electroncs were a stronger force........but now, she is 13 and her and her freinds LOVE role playing........all that Japanese anime stuff, they dress up lol go to conventions, apparently there are THOUSANDS of people of all ages into that, they connect, and make bigger clans of pretenders.......its very creative.....I am impressed
thanks for this write, i loved it
pax Anita
happy new year
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
Walt