More Memories!

Some people say
I'm a sad old man!
There's a lot that say
I'm a daft old man!
Who am I...
to argue?
Takes one
to know one!...
says I.

Each night
as I drift
slowly
to the Land of Nod'
my old mind drifts
slowly
to the delights
of childhood.

This time of year
'Season of mists & mellow fruitfulness'
all that rubbish
when the nights draw in
when the bitter cold of Autumn
chills to the bone
I dream
of Halloween' & Bonfire Night'.
Each night
from mid-October
when the family tea' was finished
I escaped
to the magical mystery land
fire-works, horrifying masks,
Guy Fawlkes & Trick or Treat'.

Late at night
when the house-lights dimmed
I sneaked back home..
to avoid
the hand of steel in a velvet glove
that me dad saved for special occasions
when I was deemed
to be a naughty lad.

Around this time of year
the occasions were many.
I frightened the neighbours' cats & dogs
attaching crackers' to their tales.
No harm meant!
It was quite funny
till my dad almost fastened a cracker'
to my tail.
Never did it anymore
couldn't sit down for a week!

I knocked on letter-boxes
shouted Trick or Treat'
as I ran off down the street.
All went welll
till a big lad
could run faster than me.
I didn't fully know
the rules of Trick or Treat'
but, I'm sure the big red, bloody nose
he gave me
was not for winning.
Never played that game again!

They said
I should be in fancy-dress'
head to toe in orange & black
a face like a pumpkin.
I said
..no need for fancy-dress'
I always look like that!
My mam was not best pleased!
She thought
I was just plain scruffy'!

My mam loved me
not so sure about my dad.
My mam knew
the basic fact of like
a lad can't really enjoy himself
unless he's covered in muck!
Whenever she saw me
two eyes twinkling
'neath a mound of muck and sand
a smile beamed across her face
a glazed look came into her eyes.

She sang to herself
words made famous.
by a long, tall streak of nothing
...Oh! You are a mucky kid
mucky as a dustbin lid
We knew
herself & me
I was her very-own'
mucky little kid!
She was proud of me!
Mams are daft, sometimes!

Remember! Remember!
The 5th of November!

Sky-Rockets, Jumping-Bangers,
Catherin-Wheels, Sparklers,
Mount Vesuvius, Winter Fountains
and
scores & scores...
...of exotic sounding names
all came together
to produce
a kaleidoscope of
colours & emotions.
My dad changed
the bottom of our back-yard
into our own magic kingdom!

Penny for the guy!
Penny for the guy!
I remember the year
I transformed
my dad's best suit
my mams best blusher' & lippie'
into
the most magnificent
Guy Fawkes
our street had ever seen.
My mam & dad
stood, side by side
united ion their anger!
I swear
I could see steam
coming out of their heads.
I didn't make
that mistake again!

Remember! Remember!
I could ramble-on forever
but, I won't.
I'll finish now!
Enjoy yourselves!

Learn more about this author, Jim Barton.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

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