The noise at the end
Of the chocolate milk shake,
That Grandma said
I never should make!

Soft teddy bears
And cuddly toys;
Deflating balloons
That make lots of noise!

Burying treasure
In grandma’s backyard;
Jewellery my mother
Told me to discard!

Searching the woods
For bright fairy rings;
Fishing for tiddlers
With string and bent pins!

Collecting manure
For grandma's rose bushes;
She never spared
Any thought for my blushes.

Picking Buttercups and Daisy’s
To make a long chain;
Stamping in puddles
Right after the rain!

Finding four leaf clover
And making a wish;
Pinching a chocolate
From Grandma’s sweet dish.

Eating green peas
Right out of the pod;
Collecting pictures
Of the latest heartthrob.

Taking newspapers
Down to the shop,
In exchange for some chips
And a bottle of pop.

Playing at Hopscotch
One Two Three jump;
Dream that I’m flying
And wake up with a bump!

New roller skates
Attached to my feet;
Whizzing along
I'm off down the street.

Visit the seaside
With bucket and spade;
Collecting sea shells
for the necklace I made.

Dressing poor kitty
In my dolly’s dress;
Collecting wild flowers
To take home and press.

Some of these things
I’d still like to do;
In spite of the fact
I’m now sixty-two!

Jackie S Brooks
18 July 2003