Of Days Gone By

Sometimes I laugh
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes I dream
Of Days gone by

Life was hard, each day we learned
We never wanted what we hadn’t earned
A handshake at the bank was the only must
Lives were built on faith and trust

Friday night dances at the school’s old gym
Pledge of Allegiance and a morning hymn
In the Spring, caterpillars all over the trees
Stop at the candy store for jujubes

Pinball machines and wiffle balls
Growing to serve, duty calls
Decorating the car for the football game
Jumping in leaves when Autumn came

Watch a parade on Decoration Day
Visit the grave, a prayer we’d say
Meet at the diner after class
On Christmas Eve, go to Midnight Mass

Play in the street until well after dark
Climbing trees at the local park
Baking potatoes on an open fire
Riding  a bike after patching  a tire

Delivering newspapers in all kinds of weather
Put a nail in a bat to hold it together
Counting stars while lying in the grass
Standing under a pavilion until the rain would pass

Sometimes I laugh
Sometimes I cry
Sometimes I dream 
Of days gone by.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011


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

12
Date: 4/4/2015 7:41:00 PM
WOW... AWESOME!!! PD
Login to Reply
Date: 3/30/2013 12:24:00 PM
Funny that I'm back! But you were the only one listed as my favorite poet..so I read it again...It's charming....Thanks!
Login to Reply
Date: 6/21/2011 10:59:00 AM
A fine, nostalgic write. I have done most of those things in my time. It is good to look back, even if some memories give a sharp pang. Regards, Robert.
Login to Reply
Date: 6/14/2011 5:30:00 PM
Hi Vince, thanks for visiting me and it led me to visit you. This is a wonderful poem of bygone days. Brings back a lot of sweet memories.......Elizabeth
Login to Reply
Date: 4/1/2011 10:19:00 AM
a great poem, brought back a lot of memories. thank you for reading my 1952 and for your comment. i was 9 years old, and thinking i would never grow up, but those were good days.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/15/2011 8:48:00 PM
Awesome write of youthful memories! Thanks for sharing and thank you for your congrats on my featured poem. Caroline.
Login to Reply
Date: 3/12/2011 7:05:00 PM
God, this should be a song lyric. I could see Neil Diamond or Don McLean singing this. This is incredibly nostalgic and quite evocative at times. Thanks for this, Vince! Regards, Gerard
Login to Reply
Date: 3/2/2011 2:57:00 PM
Oh my goodness, did you take me back! I love this poem! Thanks so much for your nice comment on my poem. Ellen
Login to Reply
Date: 2/27/2011 3:42:00 PM
I think we would all like to hold on to those memories that somehow seemed to be a simpler time. The past seemed more brighter than the future. God Bless Phyl
Login to Reply
Date: 2/14/2011 11:59:00 AM
I too, want to hang on to those days...quite often when trying to fall asleep at night...that is the "place" I want to go....it helps me shake the troubles of today's world, at least for that 'twilight' moment. If only we could keep those moments of our remembering, longer.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/9/2011 10:52:00 AM
It is going in my fav. Poem my friend. Love and best wishes...Ravindra
Login to Reply
Date: 2/9/2011 10:48:00 AM
‘Absolutely a mind blowing poem. Recalling the memories of 'days gone by' with so sweet memories is amazingly beautiful my friend. For a moment, I too was swept away with the wind of your cool and sweet memories. It was a joy reading this lovely poem and thanks for your good wishes on my featured poem...Ravindra..... Vince Suzadail Jr.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/8/2011 7:34:00 AM
The refrain sums up the whole. Things are tough in Ireland at the moment what with un-employment, little prospects and an ineffective government , but what the hell, it’s Ireland. Still a great place to live. Cheers for now, Eamon
Login to Reply
Date: 2/8/2011 7:33:00 AM
Hi Vince. Thanks for the visit and the kind comment. Loved this as it hit my memory spot. I remember jujubes as my grandfather was a sailor and used to bring them back from the USA. The pinball, the climbing trees and all those things that we thought would never change, then we grew up with only our memories times when the world was am easier place to be. Great write, you should be proud of it.
Login to Reply
Date: 2/6/2011 4:05:00 AM
This poem should have a prominent place in classrooms and community centres. If anything, growing up can be lived without prejiduce, crime, gangs and we can do it by being friendly and innocent. This world could easily return, if we had the balls to clamp down on the undesirables who make our society unbearable. I hope your family situation is easing Vince. Many thank you's for your always kind words....:)
Login to Reply
Date: 1/30/2011 10:20:00 AM
What a very sweet and nostalgic write, Vince! I enjoyed going through your corner of memory lane--thank you so much for sharing :) wonderful poetry that had me smiling :) -nikko :D
Login to Reply
Date: 1/28/2011 4:24:00 PM
Just wonderful, Vince. Yes, I remember and I want to cry to remember what is forgotten.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/22/2011 9:41:00 PM
Beautiful and lovely beyond words. In these wonderful lines, you have sketched a picture anyone would love my friend. Sorry I am reading your poem for the first time and I think I have missed such beautiful poems in the past. Will read more shortly and thank you for your kind comments on my Blog, which I have commented back. Thanks again. Love and best wishes...Ravindra....Vince S. Jr.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/21/2011 5:21:00 PM
Now you've made me cry, Vince..all those wonderful days gone that were filled with hope and promises- I have enjoyed God's beautiful earth... we felt rich beyond anything! Simple pleasures we enjoyed....now stored away... for some other time... Truly enjoyed this Vince..touched my heart and will add to my Favs. List! God blessings and love, Audrey
Login to Reply
Date: 1/19/2011 2:18:00 PM
Wonderful Norman Rockwellesque write! I really enjoyed the imagery! Thanks Vince! Light & Love
Login to Reply
Date: 1/19/2011 9:19:00 AM
it's not funny how god given gifts have been forgotten for the ones made by man. the liqure and drugs. the vido games and texting explicit pictures. sometime i cry. john
Login to Reply
Date: 1/17/2011 10:04:00 AM
Thanks for the memories, Vince. I find myself too more-and-more, dreaming of days gone by, so- much-so, that I have started writing a screenplay about them. Lainie
Login to Reply
Date: 1/14/2011 8:09:00 PM
Those days are gone, but you will always have the memories. Nicely written with pervasive descriptiveness and rhyming.
Login to Reply
Date: 1/13/2011 6:34:00 PM
I too laugh, and cry, and wish for days that have gone by.... Those precious days were gold....hard times, yes.....but it seemed that people cared about each other more. When I close my eyes at night, I dream of that time as a kid, running around the neighborhood with such freedom and feeling safe. Lovely memories you bring back to me! :)
Login to Reply
Date: 1/13/2011 5:29:00 PM
OH, you make me want to go back to my youth...I can relate to all of that ...sad to think of all of those things not in our childrens lives..but then they have video games and I phones and never GET to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Well done..BG
Login to Reply
12
Get a Premium Membership
Get more exposure for your poetry and more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Reflection on the Important Things

Member Area

My Admin
Profile and Settings
Edit My Poems
Edit My Quotes
Edit My Short Stories
Edit My Articles
My Comments Inboxes
My Comments Outboxes
Soup Mail
Poetry Contests
Contest Results/Status
Followers
Poems of Poets I Follow
Friend Builder

Soup Social

Poetry Forum
New/Upcoming Features
The Wall
Soup Facebook Page
Who is Online
Link to Us

Member Poems

Poems - Top 100 New
Poems - Top 100 All-Time
Poems - Best
Poems - by Topic
Poems - New (All)
Poems - New (PM)
Poems - New by Poet
Poems - Read
Poems - Unread

Member Poets

Poets - Best New
Poets - New
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems
Poets - Top 100 Most Poems Recent
Poets - Top 100 Community
Poets - Top 100 Contest

Famous Poems

Famous Poems - African American
Famous Poems - Best
Famous Poems - Classical
Famous Poems - English
Famous Poems - Haiku
Famous Poems - Love
Famous Poems - Short
Famous Poems - Top 100

Famous Poets

Famous Poets - Living
Famous Poets - Most Popular
Famous Poets - Top 100
Famous Poets - Best
Famous Poets - Women
Famous Poets - African American
Famous Poets - Beat
Famous Poets - Cinquain
Famous Poets - Classical
Famous Poets - English
Famous Poets - Haiku
Famous Poets - Hindi
Famous Poets - Jewish
Famous Poets - Love
Famous Poets - Metaphysical
Famous Poets - Modern
Famous Poets - Punjabi
Famous Poets - Romantic
Famous Poets - Spanish
Famous Poets - Suicidal
Famous Poets - Urdu
Famous Poets - War

Poetry Resources

Anagrams
Bible
Book Store
Character Counter
Cliché Finder
Poetry Clichés
Common Words
Copyright Information
Grammar
Grammar Checker
Homonym
Homophones
How to Write a Poem
Lyrics
Love Poem Generator
New Poetic Forms
Plagiarism Checker
Poetry Art
Publishing
Random Word Generator
Spell Checker
What is Good Poetry?
Word Counter