Another Time, Another Place
I’m painfully aware as I regress down memory lane
That scene’s of my childhood slowly begin to wane
As I strive to recall them from the labyrinth of my brain
It was a time of innocence, of carefree happy days
Of childish pranks and mischief and summer holidays
Our doors were never locked, we children all ran free
And oh what fun we had riding the Calliope
We played stick ball, cops and robbers and other childish games
We roasted chestnuts by the fire, tossing pine cones in the flames
We showed respect to teachers…mine happened to be nuns
We had never heard of pedophiles, no one came to school with guns
Schools were a place of learning and we had nothing to fear
(Certainly not a shooting gallery conducted by our peers!)
We always loved our country and saluted the flag with pride
And when President Roosevelt died, I remember how we cried
Whenever we misbehaved it was made very clear
Parents were in charge as they swat us on the rear
Respect was a given…. trust was to be earned
You took the measure of a man by the values that he learned
Another time…another place …civility is no more
And marriage, I’m sad to say, is just a swinging door
Childish pranks have changed a bit…selling drugs is done with pride
Gangs roam the streets, shooting rivals who try to hide
Parents are no longer in charge…children can’t help but fail
Spanking is called abuse now, and they would land in jail!
Mother’s who would have died for them, now covet gin or crack
And babies are left alone to wonder if they’re ever coming back
Every generation thinks that theirs was the best
I’m so happy to have lived then…I’ve truly been blest
Another time…another place…I’m afraid it is no more
Yet I’m eager to hang around to see what the future has in store
Copyright © Beatrice Boyle | Year Posted 2011
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