Whatever Happened To Sitting Out

Recollections after dinner: 

When evening came how the neighbors gathered,
on the front porches and all the kids rode bicycles and screamed,
"Look Ma, no hands!"  The reply was always a soft voice,  "Dear be careful"

The dads were on one side of the porch and the moms on the other. Talks of what 
had happened that day were ongoing, combined with what was going to happen. 
Halloween,  Christmas, Vacation, schools out and mom relieved of packing the daily 
brown bag lunches.   

It was a time when favorite recipes were discussed and who would host the next 
backyard cook out of hamburgers, hot dogs and bring a dish. Dads talked of their 
next fishing trip and how the big one always got away. The subject of college never 
came up.

No one had a TV and the radio drifted through the screen doors allowing the music 
to softly  flow out onto the blissful porch. 

Miss Jenny was always late getting to the porch due to her arthritis which was the biggest health problem, unless you fell down and broke your leg but that was 
reserved for kids.

Everyone had an old oak tree in the yard as it made things cooler.  Window fans 
were prominent because they drew the air out from underneath the tree into the 
house.  

Whatever happened to sitting out?  I miss it ....
Copyright © | Year Posted 2013


Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 7/16/2015 7:35:00 PM
I have a sudden craving for lemonade! Congratulations, I enjoyed sitting on your front porch.
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:44:00 PM
And I enjoyed having you there....you didn't have far to walk to get back to your house....that was another great part of yesteryear.
Date: 7/16/2015 12:27:00 PM
I still do it any chance I get. It calms and sooths the weary soul. Thank you for bringing back such great memories, Judy. Elaine C. George
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:45:00 PM
Yes as do I...but its mostly just my household...times changed....we had the best of times is my opinion
Date: 7/14/2015 9:14:00 PM
Judy, I just stopped by to say congratulations on your win :-) Alexis
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:46:00 PM
Thank you Alexis...appreciate it
Date: 7/14/2015 10:42:00 AM
Congratulations on your win in Carol Eastman “Story Poem Contest” Hugs Eve
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:46:00 PM
Thank you Eve....
Date: 7/14/2015 2:07:00 AM
JUDY, Congrats in Carol's story poem win. always ~~ LINDA ~~
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:47:00 PM
Thank you Destroyer....look out here comes PD..CHEERS!
Date: 7/14/2015 12:21:00 AM
Judy, Congratulations on your sweet win. Love SKAT
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:48:00 PM
Thank you Boot SKAT and Boogie...
Date: 7/13/2015 2:09:00 PM
what wonderful descriptive memories - so glad you put this is the contest Judy - many congrats:-) hugs Jan xx
Login to Reply
Date: 6/22/2013 5:47:00 PM
In my memory, the therapy from sitting out was only exceeded by the peace associated with shelling peas on the front porch with neighbors.... Ah... I remember well.... congrats on a great win.... Jake
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:43:00 PM
Yes indeed....Shelling peas....uh huh...I remember...wow
Date: 6/22/2013 8:28:00 AM
TV happened I think. Thanks for a great read. Congratulations on your win. Love, Joyce
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:49:00 PM
Thank you Joyce...Good to hear from you always...
Date: 6/22/2013 7:25:00 AM
Beautifully written! This piece makes you yearn for those front porch days. Congrats thanks for submitting Kim!
Login to Reply
Konos Avatar
Judy Konos
Date: 7/16/2015 7:51:00 PM
I tried those porch days today ...Yes I did...It was 97 and the porch "daze" set in fast....you know long ago I do not recall us complaining about the heat? hmmmm maybe we had too much Lemonade back then?
Date: 6/21/2013 11:57:00 PM
Judy I think it has changed its name to modern living, where tv rules, trays on laps, no more family. Ideals. What a blasted shame.shall we make a stand for a revival? "let sit outs rule" ....Seren
Login to Reply
Date: 6/21/2013 11:27:00 PM
Congrats on your placing! Those were the days....
Login to Reply
Date: 5/7/2013 5:45:00 PM
I once wrote one about sitting on a porch sipping ice tea and watching the kids play in the sprinkler while a dog chased a car down the street. I can totaly feel the mood you created with your poem. Definately a simpler time, also it was too hot to stay in the house without airconditioning.
Login to Reply
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter