My Hometown

I was sittin' on the porch today reminiscin' about this and that,
And my hometown came to mind where I grew up as a feckless brat!
Life was lived at a slower pace it seemed, back in that place and time.
We didn't smoke grass but stealin' watermelons was a common crime!

The senior prom was held in the school gym and didn't cost a bunch.
There was no McDonalds so you had to eat at Marty's Diner for lunch.
Imagine! You danced cheek-to-cheek to a romantic Miller refrain,
And there were no computers - you actually had to use your brain!

The girls in your class were OK, but you preferred gals in that other town!
You raced about town in your Ford and with the cops became quite renown!
Guys kept shotguns in their jalopies to go rabbit huntin' right after school.
You took pleasure in datin' your pal's ex-girl friend, thinkin' you were so cool!

You could usually find who you were lookin' for at the dairy bar or pool hall.
You pushed a reel-type lawn mower when you'd rather be playin' basketball.
Everyone gathered downtown on Saturday nights for a movie or just to hang out.
Boys started drivin' their dad's John Deere tractor at age ten or thereabout.

If you walked somewhere, people would stop to see if you needed a ride.
Should you be the last kid chosen for a game, that really hurt your pride!
Boys wore 'butch' haircuts and girls sported ponytails and saddle shoes.
When I recall those carefree days I get a touch of the melancholy blues!

Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved

Copyright © | Year Posted 2012



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Date: 5/27/2012 5:39:00 PM
What a quaint hometown and a lot of great memories...I like 2 things the most 1.) Going rabbit shooting after school and 2.) the watermelon stealing! What a reelin' great time! Watched Patton for the Memorial Day movie this year! Gotta love that guy who seemed to be so full of himself! Read a biography bout him 2 yrs ago and I wish Coppolla would have written a prequel screenplay about his earlier years! Hey, Bob. A Happy Memorial Day to you. Thanks for your brave service to our great country! Love, Gwendolen
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Date: 5/26/2012 8:30:00 AM
Gosh - I had forgotten about those friendly rides. Life was different that's for sure. Thanks for the memories.
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Date: 5/26/2012 7:56:00 AM
Robert my dear poetic friend... this write really hits a note ! I traveled the US, and believe it or not...though I was born after you, I still got to see the write of yours in mine travels....souls are slow to change in some states sir ! Awesome write...got a goose bump or two from this one ! Have a wonderful weekend sir ! Much love, james
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Date: 5/25/2012 7:39:00 PM
Hi Robert; I came to read about your Home Town. I like it. It was cool back in those days. Thanks for your comment on Bring Them Home. Many blessings. Lucilla
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Date: 5/25/2012 6:53:00 PM
Sigh, I remember it all..from a female prespective of course...I had the ponytail and shoes...I remember pushing that darned lawn mower.. your the best.BG
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Date: 5/25/2012 3:20:00 PM
i don't know how much of this is true, but i suspect that much (or all!) of it is. you've beautifully captured life in the past, when things were much simpler and in many ways much better. i enjoyed this poem, as i do all of your writings!
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