Notes About The Poem

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Hoppity Hopper

It seems I really loved to hop around,
 to have my feet come off, then back on ground. 
I got a pogo stick I used all year
 and wore out quickly once I learned to steer!

 At 15, I was not the same small kid, 
for there were other fun things that I did.
 However, I still liked some childish things
 like Sting Ray bikes and trampolines and swings.

 That year appeared in stores a brand new toy,
 a grand delight for every girl and boy.
 And though a woman I had now become,
 that Christmas I just had to have me one! 

This last big toy of mine I won’t forget
 because it brought me also some regret.
 A toy once you start, you can hardly stop:
 Can you guess? It was the Hoppity Hop. 

This toy was just a big strong rubber ball.
 You’d grip its handles so you wouldn’t fall.
 I loved to bounce around the yard on it, 
and all I had to do was simply sit! 

A boy I kind of liked showed up one day. 
I didn’t know he’d come and seen me play
 until I got up off that crazy ball
 and went to tell him “hi,” but that’s not all. . . 

I learned the back side of my shorts had split.
 The whole time he was there, I never knew it.
 My sisters later told me. Well, that guy
 simply stayed and didn’t bat an eye! 

I felt so idiotic and was sure 
he must have found me kind of immature, 
a grown girl hopping all around her lawn! 
But worse was how I felt once he had gone. 

He’d seen my shorts ripped from behind, and then
 said nothing. I could not face him again. 
So silly! He still liked me after all. . . 
but I abandoned him and that dang ball!

1/15/2022 for Natasha L. Scragg's Funny Memories Poetry Contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2022

Poem

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12
Allison Avatar
January 30, 2022 at 12:32 PM
this is" hilariarse " Andrea, many congrats on your win:-) hugs Jan xx
Goldsmith Avatar
January 29, 2022 at 11:42 AM
Congratulations on your win. A fun/cute write. I would kill myself playing with that ball. Have a blessed day/weekend.....................
Thompson Avatar
January 29, 2022 at 8:06 AM
Great poem, remember that 'dang ball' well. Never quite got the hang of it though, was too busy riding around on my chopper bike! Congrats on your win Andrea..Ron
Roper Avatar
January 29, 2022 at 6:56 AM
You are so lucky that you were able to enjoy those sorts of toys. And, for that bow... oh you must have been very good-looking that he might have not seen the shorts but only your beautiful face. oppsss.. Congratulations on a well-deserved 1st place. Blessing to you with a happy new year
Peck Avatar
January 28, 2022 at 7:20 PM
That's so cute. I once wore pants to a Sadie Hawkins dance and later found they were split at the seam in back. I never went with that guy again, either -ha. Congratulations!
Canerdy Avatar
January 28, 2022 at 3:57 PM
This IS funny. CONGRATS on your win, Andrea. Janice ??
Mcintosh Avatar
January 28, 2022 at 12:17 PM
I just love this, Andrea. Such a fun fun memory. I love it. God bless you and Congrats. Love, Gina
Kiser Avatar
January 11, 2022 at 2:45 PM
Embarrassed! What a moment. Enjoyed.
Krutsinger Avatar
January 9, 2022 at 11:41 PM
"This last big toy of mine I won’t forget because it brought me also some regret. A toy once you start, you can hardly stop: Can you guess? It was the Hoppity Hop. " I have to smile now, because this poem put me in a hippity hoppity mood.
Watt Avatar
January 9, 2022 at 11:10 PM
You have a great memory for events during your youth and childhood and a real knack for converting those memories to poetic gems. Unless, of course, ghost was a fictional account, in which case you have a great imagination, haha.
Watt Avatar
January 11, 2022 at 4:53 PM
Ha, my phone likes to spellcheck, and usually I am careful to check its corrections before I hit SEND. I think I just mistyped 'this' (Ghis, perhaps?) and it changed it to ghost. Technology and I go together like peanut butter and motor oil, haha.
Dietrich Avatar
January 11, 2022 at 3:58 PM
what is the Ghost you are talking about??
Inman Avatar
January 9, 2022 at 8:38 AM
Cute write Andrea, I had a Sting Ray bike with banana seat and butterfly handlebars when I was 6.
Proxenos Avatar
January 8, 2022 at 11:33 PM
I'm sorry Andrea he was so sly, and the fact that you liked him felt like it was a slap in the face, but good for you, your interest waned although you found out he liked you later, and you would not give him the time of day. Hugs and blessings, so enjoyed this wonderful write. Hugs and blessings Jennifer.
Maverick Avatar
January 8, 2022 at 7:03 AM
Well it's all 'behind you know/now Andrea' that's my Steer; on what you've posted here, dear' And if happened in summer that would Negate it being a...a No I'm not going to go There' whilst upon thoughts rebounding round I think you'd let him gently down.'
Norton Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 7:59 PM
Now that is a funny memory, funnily told in a humorous and delightful poem. I loved every bit of it. You excel at sharing your personal stories Your rhyming was delightful as well. I had a ball reading it. Bless you, friend. Bryan
Laurie Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 6:55 PM
Hello Andrea ... no matter what, it appears your hoppity hop ball gave you hours of pleasure. So well written as usual, and loved the nostalgia - thank you Andrea - Lindsay
Messina Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 4:50 PM
LOL...love this, you, I'm sure were a cutie and that hoppity hopper AND the split in your pants probably made him like you even more. Nice memory. Best wishes in the contest. Have a lovely weekend, Andrea. :)
Jangid Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 4:33 PM
Really funny I liked it. I also missed my sweet 15. Best deserve win. Thanks for sharing.
Baker Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 3:27 PM
Made me smile again Andrea. Good funny poem, a great contest entry. All of those (toys) I remember as a lot of fun. Smiles and Hugs, Bill
DiMino Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 1:14 PM
Cute story, Andrea; and very well told. A nice memory really to treasure. Those types of experiences are so embarrassing when we are young, but looking back, we find them perfectly harmless and delightfully innocent to recall. Not to forget that, that boy became a famous proctologist, all thanks to your charming inspiration. Blessings!!
Dietrich Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 2:17 PM
well I WAS wearing underwear hahaha. Good one, Joe
Callus Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 12:14 PM
Entertained from beginning to end, Andrea...and still sport a big smile :) That must have been when you learned to blush! ~ Regards // paul
Skelly Avatar
January 7, 2022 at 1:38 AM
Remember those bouncing balls well, they made great Christmas presents...Delice
Theraven Avatar
January 6, 2022 at 3:33 PM
Andrea, We all have days like these occasionally, but it was so easy to relate with your seat of the pants split with the boy and the Hoppity Hopper. -Richard
Marcum Wong Avatar
January 6, 2022 at 1:16 PM
How mortified you must have been Andrea. Things like that happen to everyone and he probably thought nothing of it, but when we are younger we get so embarrassed. Loved your story for this contest. blessings xxoo
Leffanta Avatar
January 6, 2022 at 10:42 AM
Nice lead in to your plot, too! Aloha!
Poet Avatar
January 6, 2022 at 10:25 AM
That's a humorous story about jumping on your back and ripping the hem of your shorts out underneath you. I'd think it's well suited for the contest. Wishing you the best of luck! Andrea.
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