When I Was a Mere Lad of Ten

I was a mere lad of ten living on a prairie farm in Hoosier land, Roaming the fields in my old straw hat, barefoot, carefree and tanned. My faithful dog, Spooks, was always with me chasing rabbits, (And rabbits were very plentiful due to their prolific habits!) We had no inside facilities such as running water or a bath. Our privy, as it was called, was located at the end of a winding path! A Saturday night ritual was taking a sitz bath in a metal washing tub, Then we'd pile in Dad's '35 Dodge and head for town after my scrub. There was no TV in those days and my ears were glued to the radio, Following the adventures of my heroes, filtered through static-filled audio! I spent my meager allowance buying model planes and crafting the things. Dozens hung from the ceiling of my room floating on gossamer wings. I used a supple willow branch for a rod and a safety pin for a hook, Angling for crawdads and wily crappie in the cool and flowing brook. The Great Depression was ending way back then when I was ten. Alas, World War Two began and things were never the same again. On languid summer afternoons on a limb of the old oak tree I'd stretch, And watch the scudding clouds as boyhood dreams I'd sketch. Those were some of the things I did way back then when I was ten. I'm four score and five now, but how I cherish memories of way back then! Entry for Kelly Deschler's "Way Back When I Was Ten" Contest