Notes About The Poem

for the Forts and Castles Poetry Contest of Craig Cornish

___________________________________________________________________________________________--

In Days Long Gone

I remember in days long gone
our neighborhood boys
scooping large fallen branches
from the backwoods’ trees
and fitting them together with rope,
finishing off their crudely constructed creations
with old used blankets atop
and anchored down with rocks.
Leaves and pine cones were decorations
for these tiny fortresses
behind which they hid with toy guns
to play out their cowboy fantasies.

Little girls preferred the cute private chambers
of their best friends,
where they chatted and sipped tea
from tiny tea cups
while munching on mom’s cookies.
There they could imagine the day
when little boys gave up forts
to make them queens of castles.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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

Maverick Avatar
October 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Wow...I wonder what old claus scwab Did or any of them.? Probably took his Spider for a walk among the haunted forest of vulgaria or wherever or maybe Dissecting a flea just to see.? The thing Is the children now are living in a set That these morons are fabricating.? Well they even need others for that..I wonder if they ever took familiy holidays? Or made a sandcastle ? I know we were advised not to sing or have parties 2020/22.?? All blessings.)
Loving Iii Avatar
October 22, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Glad you mintioned both sexes. What we had was priceless. Nothing can exceed what we have now except heaven.
Gregory Avatar
October 22, 2025 at 1:40 PM
A real thing we had ten or so years old...hi andrea this is amazing free verse that do this marvelous poignant with a memory to match thanks for this poem
Rodgers Avatar
October 22, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Dear Andrea, I felt like stepping into a sepia-toned memory full of branches and blankets, pine cones and tea cups. Ahhh, the innocence and imagination of childhood, with just the right touch of nostalgia. Sometimes I miss those days. Autumn Blessings, Dear Andrea, Daniel
Onclaud Avatar
October 21, 2025 at 10:52 PM
told ya, free verse becomes you, andie...lovely!
Hamilton Avatar
October 21, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I love the smooth flow of this exquisite write hugs Shadow
Narain Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:00 PM
The poem is a pleasing and effective evocation of childhood playground memory, offering gentle nostalgia, vivid imagery, and a pair of contrasting scenes that are accessible and evocative. It successfully invites readers to remember their own childhoods and to reflect on play, imagination, creativity, and the passage of time.
Dietrich Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Thanks, Jay
Singh Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Life is beautiful recollecting such cherished memories Like the poem.
Dietrich Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Thank you
Bayles Avatar
October 19, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Such nice memories. So much emotion in this poem.
Dietrich Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Thanks, Mike
Parker Avatar
October 19, 2025 at 7:52 AM
We would dig caves out of the leaf piles that the city would leave, which covered whole fields
Mcintosh Avatar
October 19, 2025 at 2:08 AM
So amazing. This is simply brilliant. I would never have come up with anything so amazing and awe-inspiring. Love it and it will surely win. God bless you my kind friend. love, Gina
Dietrich Avatar
October 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
I doubt it will place but thanks for liking it so much
Sinha-Roy Avatar
October 19, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Enjoyed reading it, Andrea. The ending is superb.
Dietrich Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Thanks, Subimal
Steinmetz Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Yes, nostalgia is great! Beautifully written, Andrea!
Dietrich Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Thank you
Hind Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Aw, this is very pretty!! The end, so cute :)
Dietrich Avatar
October 20, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Thanks
Kelii Kekaula Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Seldom do my classmates visit 'my neck of the woods', being that I live next to the beach, it's still a country setting. When they happen my way (twice in my lifetime—brother's separate by a year of each other) I quickly know why that would be the case—they can't swim? They float on oversized tire tubes from their family car, Studebaker, and both times I had to retrieve it for them when it floated in the middle of the pond—POND!
Dietrich Avatar
October 19, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Wish I had grown up with beach life
Godwin Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I enjoyed doing all elements of both scenarios, woods, forts, pioneers, Indians, bows and arrows, I'll stop here or I might fill the box. A tea party would include my Barbies and good posture, manners. I shared a room with Pooh when she was 3/4 me 8/9, and we had a little table for our 'apartment' tea parties. Your poem aligns with truth and nostalgia coats it. This is definitely L possible. Regret screen nightmare rather than screen dreamy entertainment, a bummer of a circumstance.
Dietrich Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Joe and I found all kinds of western shows for him on our Roku box. !! Roku is amazing
Dietrich Avatar
October 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Once I got this idea, I just wrote this but with only 20 lines , we can't fit in lots of details. I am happy with this no matter what the sponsor might think
Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace