Penny Arcade

It was a different era, a different time
No hills too big for us to climb
We fit into the roles we played
And spent our summers in the penny arcade
The smell of popcorn all buttered up
Soda in a waxed paper cup
Skeet ball cost a nickel a game
Summers will never be the same
We saved the tickets to earn a prize
There was love and laughter in our eyes
We’d pick out of the pond  a plastic duck
Chinese handcuffs, just my luck
Pitching pennies at those colored dishes
Closing our eyes and making wishes
Just across the aisle from the candy bars
You could get eight by tens of movie stars
Put our face to the viewer, a nickel we’d pay
Turn the handle and a cartoon would play
Try three shots with a basketball
Pinball machines up against the wall
A Machine that tells you if your love is true
And a shocker to see if you’re a strong man too
I love to think back of the games we played
And of summer days in the Penny Arcade.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2008

Poem

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Bickerstaffe Avatar
December 5, 2008 at 9:06 AM
You are the master of wistful... yet another fine piece of rhyming couplets with a nod toward yesterday. Well done Vince! Best wishes, Keith
Parker Avatar
August 19, 2008 at 9:52 AM
What happened to all those anyway? Great nostalgic poem, Vince...God bless you, Cindy
Buys Avatar
August 12, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Such a lovely and nostalgic poem Vince. You sure know how to take me down memory lane. Well written and a joy to read. Love Heidie
Reynolds Avatar
August 12, 2008 at 4:44 AM
Oh, love it! Your poems always leave me misty...my favorite place to be was the arcade playing pac-man and pinball...well done. :) Love Kristin
Foulk Avatar
August 11, 2008 at 12:00 PM
loved this reminded me of those hot summers of long ago. you would spend a fortune tying to win a cheap prize, do you remember those side shows with the freaks. jo jo the dog face boy. they had the penny arcades at the state fair also. this was a great piece you wrote.
Mckenzie Avatar
August 11, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Oh boy Vince you brought me back to the good old days careful you may date yourself there! :) wonderful write great flow! just Wonderful. Laura
Winter Avatar
August 11, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Yes!! I was so crazy for pinball machines! Everything you wrote here was part of my childhood summers. I can smell the arcade. You are amazing in bringing back memories so crystal clear! Awesome write. Love, Shar
Degenhardt Avatar
August 11, 2008 at 9:28 AM
I recently took my kids to the steel pier in Atlantic City and it's just as described in your write. Marvelous flow and rhyme all while being descriptive and accurate. Terrific write my friend. Michael
Jordan Avatar
August 11, 2008 at 9:22 AM
Vince I thank you for the stroll down memory lane this morning - Life seemed so simple then - God Bless you and your family Vince and thank you for your comments and support
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