Most Commented Nostalgia Poems (1,154)

It is a better thing to be
One who hungers and is free
Than to stroll the lavish plains
With gilt-and-satin inlaid chains

I recall an incident from my very early youth. I was around age four. My family lived on a white oak lined avenue in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland. The year was 1956. Just up at the top of the hill, five houses beyond my house was Oakleigh Elementary School. On the grounds, aside from the actual school building itself, were four baseball diamonds, a football field, soccer field, two tennis courts, a basketball court, several wooded areas, an old haunted house (not part of the school grounds, but it was there), and a corraled (metal bars) playground. In this playground, of the many apparatti available, was a merry go round, a sliding board, monkey bars, and swings. The playground was brand new, the ground strewn with sand and stringy wood pieces. My two best friends, Paul and Tommy (who were two years older than me) and I would often go to the playground from our homes to play (We lived very close and remember this was 1956). The end of the school jutted out toward the playground. Maybe, fifty feet apart from each other. Oakleigh elementary was a two story structure in which were taught grades 1 thru 6. One day, as my friends and I were playing, two figures appeared in the large picture window on the second floor at the end of the school overlooking the playground. It was a man and a woman. The man was naked and the woman, clothed, appeared to be scrubbing him just below the belly with a brush. (At the time, I didn't realize that that wasn't a brush in her hand). Without alarm, we played and then left for home. As we were heading home, we came upon our neighbor, Mr. Menninger. One of the older boys, I don't recall which (probably both), remarked to him that they had seen a naked man in the school. As it never crossed our minds that there was anything wrong (or mine anyway), we made our way to our homes. Soon after, there was a buzz going about on our street. Folks were outside. Shortly following, a police car went up our road to the school. After a while (I haven't a clue how long), the police car came back down the hill past our homes and disappeared. I saw two people in the back seat of the car as it passed. I was oblivious to the meaning of all the excitement, obviously. Some days later (for some reason), Paul, Tommy, and I, and our parents, had to get dressed up in the middle of a weekday and travel to this big building somewhere. I had never been there. Our parents walked us into the building and we were all seated in this wide hallway on some wooden benches. Well, we never left those benches for the longest time until some man in a suit came out of one of the doors and spoke to our folks. Something about it being all over. Now get this, then another man came over and gave each of we children a brand new crisp one dollar bill and told us "this is for appearing in court". Whatever that meant. I was bewildered by this entire affair.

Sitting here listening to the women that surround me.
Thinking life sure isn't easy.
One to my right is crying as her loved one lays dying in the hospital.
I look at her and say I am sorry and I know just how she feels.
You could have heard a pin drop.
I felt all eyes on me.
But it's ok because you see.
I know it's not easy.
To act as if all is ok.
Might be fine for you.
But sometimes.
What one needs.
Is just some acknowledgment.
Then there's the beauty beside me.
She isn't happy at home you see.
She wants another.
And it is making her all so sad.
So once again I open my mouth.
I am just bad.
Let me give you some old women's advice.
Before putting the cart before the horse,
You better think twice.
Before doing something you can't erase.
Please don't think by doing this.
Your horse will win the race.
He want come close to even being in last place.
If you are not happy with where you're at.
Go live on your own.
But take the time to be alone.
You see life isn't how you talk.
It is really about how you walk.
Sure you might trip and fall.
Get back up and go on it is only a stall.
Just heed my words when I tell you.
It's not about the way you talk.
It's the way you walk.

That day turned out to
Be one of fate, George and
Jack, along with Gracie and Mary,
Were the best of friends, already.
As he found their pretty tour guide,
Lily,captivating; George wouldn't
Stop razzing Jack, and
in turn, Jack loved it!

As they strolled past
The shops of London, the sound
Of George's voice and the
Laughter that followed, soon
Turned to whisper, hardly
Heard to him at all.
All he could hear was the sweetness
Of that wonderful British accent.

He stands behind the table, its
Almost time to exit the stage,
And return seconds later, when
Uncle Miltie intoduces him,
After the brief intermission.
'Thirty seconds" someone yells.
He takes an extra hard pull
On his cigarette and slowly exhales.
He exits the stage, just beyond
The eyes of the huge, intimating camera.

Burns and company, do not
Notice that he and Lily,
Have fallen behind. Lily, pulls on his
Arm, that she now has tucked under
His, each sharing their warmth
To block the the coolness of the weather.

In the shop window, were the plates.
The shop keeper had them displayed
So the gold trim sparkled in the light.
" There's some plates you won't spin!"
Laughing as she says it, filling his ear
Music from heaven.
"They would make one hell of a final show!"
He torts back. " Yeah it would."
He hears from behind him.
Before he realized what had transpired,
His five friends talked him into buying
Fifteen of them. Burns and Benny
Lending him the difference he didn't have.
Lily grabs a piece of paper from her
Purse and asks the clerk to borrow a pencil.
" Could you paint this on them? In gold?" she asks.
" Three days is as soon it can be done."
Lily nods in approval.
He taunts her to reveal what she sketched.
" You'll see." is the only answer she gave.
Three days later the plates were finished.
But that day, a friendship of six developed;
A love of two, spawned, friends and love lasting
A lifetime.

My feet feel the three inch beam beneath them.
Only for a minute then we become one.
Then I am at home.
I can dance in the air.
Without a care.
Backwards, forwards.
Spin around with ease.
Don't try this at home children please.
It takes practice and calm.
And strength you don't see.
But I dance and I dance for me.
A fool says watch where you lay your feet.
But a fool looks down and that is what they will meet.
So I dance with the grace,
Of feeling in place.
Turn around, bend, dip and spin.
I hope this dance will never end.

I got the car started I heard you calling me.
It's a beautiful day and I'm heading your way.
You make me feel good. Like no other could.
I'm a lucky gal found you when I needed a smile.
It seems like I have been looking only a short while.
And here you are.
Come to me.
Lets make some memories.
You fit just right.
I can't complain.
Some would call our love insane.
But to make me feel this good.
To let you slip by would be a shame.
So we're heading to the door.
I am holding on tight to you.
You want get away.
I'm surely going to pay.
Huh, what's that your saying.
Fifteen percent off.
Cool.
What you are kidding and they are also reduced thirty more percent.
Oh my.
We are headed to the door I can hardly wait to get you home.
You caress my feet and make my legs look all so toned.
I got to call my daughter.
Where is the phone?
There is a shoe sell.
Now really did you think it would be anything but a shoe.
That could brighten my day.
And make me skip this way.

Oh no I am left behind again.
Sometimes I feel like I am invisible.
Seems like there is some kind of pecking order going on here.
And I say "What about me."
Ok go on. I don't care.
So I go and just waddle off on my own.
Sometimes it is hard to be the last one.
To wonder what is wrong with me.
I'm not that strong.
I wear my heart upon my sleeve.
And people just keep hurting little ol me.
They say I need to toughen up.
But all I want to be is a yellow duck.
They seem to get all the time.
Of the people who come close to the ponds line.
There feathers are colored all so rich.
Mine are tan with touch of dark brown.
And sometimes I feel that even Ma don't want me around.
So I continue on my search.
For my place in line.
Ut-oh! I don't see Ma and the others.
Oh brother I am lost.
As I sit and cry.
Asking myself repeatedly.
Why oh why.
Hey hey stop that!
That is the back of my head.
There is Ma pecking me.
With a beak of lead.
Pushing me back in place.
With a look upon her face.
Oh I am just a young duck.
Who has just run out of luck.
I'm going, I'm going.
Please quit pecking me.
Are you sure you're my family.
I don't look like you.
Look at your other two.
Aw geez I am coming.
Stop.

When I die I wish to come back
As one of her tears,
What man would be no lucky
As to have been conceived
In her heart.
Born in her eyes
Lives on her cheeks
And die at her lips.

His mind is clear, he wonders if
The Burn's are watching, or the Benny's.
He knows Lily's watching, he feels her
Near him, in his mind, she's the one
Handing him the plates, and
Smiling at him as he grabs them.
He sees the first plate start to wobble,
He jumbs back to it.
A bell rings in the background,
Indicating time to wrap up his act.

It took the audience a moment to realize
This was not part of the act, as he
Lay wreathing on the floor while holding
his left leg, tears streaming down his face.
The crowds on it's feet as a doctor,
Pushes his was though the crowd.
The doc looks probes around with
His fingers, causing more pain.
Stage hands carefully lift him to
His dressing room, where the Doctor
Does a more thorough exam.

He gives the first plate a quick
Twitch, keeping it on course.
He goes to second plate, snatches,
Hands it to the assistant, he does
This all the way down the line,
Including the fifteenth.
He turns to the first, then as
If on cue, it starts to wobble again.
America gasps as they helplessly
Watch the last plate topple
From it's perch.
He leaps, one more time, lands
On his knees, slides and stops
Precisely in front of the falling disc,
Catching it before it hits the ground!

Your fingers wrap up in my hair
Your legs wrap my hips
Your eyes are closed
Your mouth is open
You breath out deeply
As you let me in

Was it the wine?
Was it cherry cordials-
Sweet and smooth and sticky?
Was it the stimulation
Of conversation, over dinner
Or the absolute natural scent
Which only flowers do impart?

No.. They are but trappings
A pedestal onto which we foist
Our predetermined passion, not only
For the pleasure of the climb, but
For all that further we may fall,

And how we do fall, fall, fall...