Of Days Gone By

Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I dream Of Days gone by Life was hard, each day we learned We never wanted what we hadn’t earned A handshake at the bank was the only must Lives were built on faith and trust Friday night dances at the school’s old gym Pledge of Allegiance and a morning hymn In the Spring, caterpillars all over the trees Stop at the candy store for jujubes Pinball machines and wiffle balls Growing to serve, duty calls Decorating the car for the football game Jumping in leaves when Autumn came Watch a parade on Decoration Day Visit the grave, a prayer we’d say Meet at the diner after class On Christmas Eve, go to Midnight Mass Play in the street until well after dark Climbing trees at the local park Baking potatoes on an open fire Riding a bike after patching a tire Delivering newspapers in all kinds of weather Put a nail in a bat to hold it together Counting stars while lying in the grass Standing under a pavilion until the rain would pass Sometimes I laugh Sometimes I cry Sometimes I dream Of days gone by.