FORTIES CHILD

during the Forties
       I was just a lad
growing up
   was not so bad
Summer evenings
          lengthened long
clambered trees  
      with birds in full song
across nearby fields 
      &over the brook
studying in nature's 
            real-timebook
scaled branches 
      for my egg collection
wild flowers
  then pressed to perfection
fishing for stickleback 
      with jamjar and net
oftimes slipping 
      &getting wet

boys' club
   in the old school hall
indoor hockey 
       with a ragged ball
 gathering conkers 
       on Chestnut Crescent
for annual contests    adolescent
blue-paper fireworks
      fifth    November,
baked spuds 
      in glowing ember

around the streets
     carol singing
boxes rattling    lanterns swinging

indelible       magic memoir
remembered        scenes from afar