John Gondolf Poet Quintain (English)

Notes About The Poem

The Inner-City Park

Passing this park I think back to a time,
   back in my youth this is where we would play;
swinging on swings, and monkey bars to climb,
   shouting and laughing and playing all day;
   with no parents around to get in our way.

When our kids were young we would bring them here
   and neighborhood kids with their parents in tow.
Children shouting and laughing and full of cheer, 
   atop monkey bars looking at friends below,
   until parents were tired and ready to go.

Today the park is vacant and looks unkept,
   swings hanging empty in the summer heat.
It’s a sign of the times we have to accept,
   it’s no longer a safe place for friends to meet.
   The only sounds are the inner-city noise of the street.

This park was always such a beautiful site;
   why did this happen, how did it get this way?
We allowed this to happen without much fight;
   now the children have no safe place to play.
   How I miss the simpler times of yesterday. 



October 23, 2017

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Rhoda Tripp January 6, 2018 at 11:19 PM This poem, like many of yours makes me contemplate and ponder. Is it that we are more populated and it's a matter of mathematics? (percentage of the population we cannot trust increases as population increases) I just don't know. I'll be laying awake staring at the ceiling pondering tonight. Ughhh. John Gondolf January 7, 2018 at 2:46 PM Hope this didn't keep you awake too long last night. I think it is a combination of things; I will give you my opinion when we have more time.

Sandra Haight November 6, 2017 at 4:02 PM What wonderful nostalgic thoughts, John. Yes, we have those empty parks too and miss those days. You have expressed this so well, and congratulations on your well-deserved Podium win. Sandra John Gondolf November 6, 2017 at 4:11 PM Thank you again, Sandra, Your comments and encouragements are appreciated. John

Line Gauthier November 5, 2017 at 9:59 AM Well expressed nostalgia. Congrats on your win, John. John Gondolf November 5, 2017 at 10:19 AM Thanks Line, and thanks for the visit.

Eve Roper November 4, 2017 at 12:03 PM John, great write, this is what I was looking for the effects from the past to now. Thank you for entering my contest and congratulations on your win ! Hugs Eve ~`* John Gondolf November 4, 2017 at 1:19 PM Eve, I appreciate your comments. Thank you the placement and for sponsoring the contest. John

Cheryl Hoffman October 24, 2017 at 7:48 PM An awesome nostalgic write John~good luck in the contest!~Che :) (Those were the good ol' days!) John Gondolf October 24, 2017 at 8:20 PM Thank you, Cheryl! Yes, the good ol’ days - the key work being “old.”

Ralph Sergi October 24, 2017 at 1:07 PM Hi John: A sad reminiscing poem and it brings back a time visited the neighborhood and street I was raised in. My memories were obscured by it's run down appearance. Great write! John Gondolf October 24, 2017 at 1:19 PM Thanks, Ralph, I'm glad you like it. I think probably we all have had similar experiences.

Alexis Y. October 24, 2017 at 10:40 AM Hi John, I miss those simpler times as well. I often tell my children when I was young we used go out and play. The kids of today want to just play video games or get on the computer. If one can't afford a computer all one need is a cell phone. I wish you the best of luck in the contest:-) Alexis John Gondolf October 24, 2017 at 11:18 AM Thank you Alexis. When I was young, my mother would drop me off at the park to fish in the creek that ran through it and leave me by myself for 2 or 3 hours; we would never think of doing that today. John

Andrea Dietrich October 23, 2017 at 6:59 PM Yes, I really miss those simple times, before cell phones, etc. I wrote mine in free verse. Just didn't post it yet. I really connected to the swing poem, same as you, John John Gondolf October 24, 2017 at 11:14 AM Thank you Andrea, yes, as Archie Bunker would say "those were the days." I look forward to reading your poem. John

Maureen McGreavy Pigeon Tart October 23, 2017 at 9:27 AM Fantastic pen John, I could feel it, see it, and with your message have to agree with it. My best to you for the contest! xomo :) John Gondolf October 23, 2017 at 10:15 AM Thank you so much for your comments, Maureen, I'm glad you liked it.