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The Golden Era

It was as if someone had turned on the light . I must have been about ten years old when my Mother sent me to the shop. She liked Jim Reeves and I went to pick up his 45, 'Take my hand precious lord'. A month ago I heard that song and the care free days of the sixties flashed back into my mind. Back then there were no computers, mobile phones or social media. People were friendlier and there was more respect for others. We watched black and white T.V with programmes like Doctor Who,The Saint,and Rawhide. We went everywhere by bus and sometimes walked as we had no family car. The sixties were for me the best years to live through for music and an easier way of life. All it took was a song to take me back to that golden era but sadly now only a distant memory. Written on 28th September 2018 For ten lines of what it was like back then poetry contest sponsored by Silent One.

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Kim Rodrigues

Date: 6/10/2019 5:54:00 PM

Who would have thought the sixties would be the golden era but like you said we walked and talked with one another.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 6/11/2019 4:58:00 AM

Thanks Kim, definitely a slower and more relaxed way of life but now everything's fast paced and people haven't a minute to spare and getting stressed. Sadly we won't see those days again. Tom.

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 10/23/2018 1:27:00 AM

Great win Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/23/2018 2:31:00 AM

Thanks Timothy. Tom.

Line Gauthier

Date: 10/11/2018 8:01:00 PM

Lovely poem, Tom. Congrats on your well deserved win.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/12/2018 2:28:00 AM

Thank you very much Line, happy you enjoyed it. Tom.

Eve Roper

Date: 10/7/2018 5:23:00 PM

Back with congratulations on your win. :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/8/2018 10:34:00 AM

Thank you very much Eve. Tom.

Alexis Y.

Date: 10/5/2018 2:40:00 PM

Hi Tom, I'm just coming back to say congrats on your winning write:-) Alexis

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/5/2018 11:23:00 PM

Thank you for the congrats Alexis. Tom.

Maureen Mcgreavy

Date: 10/5/2018 9:13:00 AM

A little before my time but still so relatable. Enjoyed :) Congratulations my friend! xomo

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/5/2018 10:08:00 AM

Thank you very much Maureen. Tom.

Silent One

Date: 10/5/2018 6:31:00 AM

Definitely a golden era.. Congratulations on place in the contest..

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/5/2018 10:07:00 AM

Thank you S.I , its frightening when you realise so many years have gone by. Thanks for hosting. Tom

Alexis Y.

Date: 10/1/2018 11:14:00 AM

Hi Tom, Hearing a song can most definitely take you back in time. You captured the era very well in this well written piece. I wish you the best of luck in the contest. PS, I missed reading your gifted pen:-) Alexis

Tom Cunningham
Date: 10/1/2018 11:47:00 AM

Thank you very much Alexis for your kind words, its nice to see you back. Tom

Caycay Jennings

Date: 9/30/2018 3:47:00 PM

A song can spark so much emotion and bittersweet memories - I relate to that, feel that, know that. What eludes me is which memories dwell to be sparked, it's as though we don't get to choose the ones that will lifelong visit us, or the fuel that will spark them sharply tender in our hearts. I enjoyed this ... CayCay

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/30/2018 7:43:00 PM

Thank you CayCay, a song does it every time for me. But you're right, all memories surface and not just the good ones. Hope you're well. In Turkey at the moment logging in when I can. Tom

Jack Ellison

Date: 9/30/2018 10:50:00 AM

More and more lately, my mind has been drifting back to that simpler time! I guess as we age, each generation looks fondly on their younger days but the world of today seems to be heading down a less friendly path! Computers have enhanced our lives greatly but also there has been a not so good down-side!!! Cheers Happy Jack

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/30/2018 12:21:00 PM

I suppose when we're younger we see those times as stress free and look back with fondness'. The world has become more volatile for sure and the internet is great but scammers' and predictor's inhabit it too. Still in Turkey, hope you're having a good weekend. Tom.

Winged Warrior

Date: 9/29/2018 10:28:00 AM

I concur with you Tom...simpler life-great music...lower taxes lol...great memories my friend...love & the 60's...^WW^

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 2:13:00 PM

Thank you W.W. Happy that you enjoyed it, they were golden years for sure. Tom

Roy Pett

Date: 9/29/2018 5:46:00 AM

I can certainly relate to your well written poem Tom, I agree things were so different then the countryside was my playground at one with nature, never knew anyone with anxiety or depression, well written and good luck in contest my friend. :))

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 8:55:00 AM

Thank you Roy, You're so right depression was unheard of. Our world has become greedy and selfish, people under a lot of pressure at work etc Tom

Heidi Sands

Date: 9/29/2018 5:33:00 AM

So true.! So different then. No computers, social media, more respect etc. You have touched upon significant things and brought me back. Well done Tom :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 8:51:00 AM

Thank you Heidi, our world has certainly changed, more greed and selfishness' I'm sorry to say. Tom

Demetrios Trifiatis

Date: 9/29/2018 4:36:00 AM

Dearest Tom, your poem made me nostalgic of the sixties! How true are the things you are referring to! We are close in age and certainly share the same memories! Wish you the best of luck my friend! Wondrous writing!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 8:48:00 AM

Thank you Demetrios, Yes ,we're both of a young age lol. They were good times without a doubt. Tom

Timothy Mcguire

Date: 9/29/2018 1:37:00 AM

Good Job Good luck!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 8:47:00 AM

Thank you Timothy. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 9/29/2018 1:30:00 AM

- My mother loved Jim Reeves also - We listened to this music over and over again - Nice memories, many thanks Tom - Good luck in the contest - Best wishes for a lovely weekend :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 8:46:00 AM

Thank you Sunshine, happy times indeed, hope you're well. In Turkey at the moment living it up Hope you have a great weekend too. Tom

Lyric Man

Date: 9/28/2018 10:53:00 PM

Golden sounds right.. seems like the best of days where things weren’t taken for granted and humor had to be funny, not crude. And stories made sense and left one inspired!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 12:23:00 AM

Thanks Dave, I agree, humour back then was funny and didn't need any props. Tom

M. L. Kiser

Date: 9/28/2018 10:38:00 PM

Undoubtedly, that was the best era for television shows; there were great writers, producers and directors that were just born to create! Thanks for the tour through those memories. Well done.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 12:24:00 AM

Thank you ML, I fully agree with you. Tom

Eve Roper

Date: 9/28/2018 10:27:00 PM

I enjoyed reading, Tom. Our children are losing out in so much since they spend so much time behind their electronics. Luck in the contest

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 12:25:00 AM

Thanks Eve, so very true, my grandsons always on ipads and Xbox. Tom

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 9/28/2018 9:26:00 PM

I really enjoyed this as that was my time of grade school and entry into junior high. However, I have always been a fan of current music so I keep listening to whatever is on the pop channel and all the new movies and I love ALL of it, the whole ball of wax! You are sure right about social media though. Kids today will never know the pure joy of truly socializing and leaving secret notes for their friends written with pen and paper!!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/29/2018 12:27:00 AM

Thanks Andrea, I had too many lines and have had to trim it. I do like some modern music but the sixties I love. Like your comment. Tom

Janice Canerdy

Date: 9/28/2018 4:53:00 PM

This one resonates with me, Tom--sentence by sentence! I remember having one phone and being on a four-party line (or was it eight-party!) as a kid. We had three channels and gladly watched was on! Imagine a kid watching Lawrence Welk nowadays. Thanks for the memories! Janice

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/28/2018 6:31:00 PM

Thanks Janice, we didn't have a phone but my auntie did and we'd pick up the phone as kids and there was always someone else on the line,lol, happy days. Tom

Nette Onclaud

Date: 9/28/2018 4:18:00 PM

it must have been a most wonderful decade, tom, as gleaned from your remarkable poem...one for the books!...huggs

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/28/2018 6:29:00 PM

Thanks Nette, it was, we didn't have as much as folk have today but I think folk were happier. Tom

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 9/28/2018 1:36:00 PM

The caring 60's, before people became selfish. Love it Tom!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/28/2018 1:41:00 PM

Thanks Caren, yes you're right, nowadays people don't give you the time of day. Tom

Vijay Pandit

Date: 9/28/2018 1:24:00 PM

I traveled back with you Tom. A sincere, heartfelt reflection..so many can relate to. The details in your poem bring forth the imagery of those days..a sign of well written poem. You have already won in my view, Tom.

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/28/2018 1:40:00 PM

Thanks very much Vijay, your right I bet there are many on here that lived through the sixties and have fond memories of that era. Tom

Mike Gentile

Date: 9/28/2018 1:13:00 PM

Thank sounds like a lovely memory Tom. I also have a great fondness for the sixties!!

Tom Cunningham
Date: 9/28/2018 1:21:00 PM

Thanks Mike, sadly we won't see those care free days again, the world has changed so much. Tom