Notes About The Poem

["When Neighbors Came Around" was included in my first poetry chapbook, The Lady in the Pink Hat," Candor Press, 1969.]

When Neighbor's Came Around

Remember those days, long ago,
When friends would come to call?
October was a good time, hazy
(Indian summer) anyway, in the fall
After the harvest was in.
The kids would organize a game
Of hide-and-seek; the porch post
Served as base,
And neighbors solved their differences
And arguments face to face,
Mostly religion and politics
Or they talked about the war
And sometimes how to do something
Like prune a tree or plumb a door.
Ladies clustered together
Men in a huddle on the ground
That's what it used to be
When neighbors came around.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2021

Poem

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Krutsinger Avatar
April 20, 2021 at 8:31 PM
So incredibly wise was the world back in the "day" . "And neighbors solved their differences And arguments face to face," Wow!
Hankins Avatar
April 21, 2021 at 8:17 AM
Yep, I saw this happen many times when neighbors would gather on our front porch back in the hills of West Virginia. Today we hardly know our neighbors.
Rigoler Avatar
April 20, 2021 at 4:41 AM
Excellent poem and recounting of times that are no more Te best compliment I can you you, Milton, is that I wish I had written it. I have an unpublished manuscript on mt boy days on my grandparents farm – A New England Boy. A title that mimicks A. E. Housman's "A Shropshire Lad." I keep editing it and either adding a new poem or deleting an old one. / Maurice
Hankins Avatar
April 20, 2021 at 8:49 AM
Thanks so much, Maurice. I appreciate so much your kind and thoughtful comment. I have a few poems I think will never get beyond editing!
Kavanagh  Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 1:35 PM
I enjoyed this poem thoroughly Milton, I like to reminisce on childhood memories, neighbors where indeed a social circle back in the day, I think modern technology has a lot to do with the neighborly decline, evolution hey, cheers David
Hankins Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 1:46 PM
Thanks, David. I think you are soooo right! Those days are gone forever I fear. Thanks for your read and your insightful comment.
Gelok Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 11:31 AM
wish things could be like it was...now we are so leery of talking, visiting, enjoying our neighbors...so sad.
Hankins Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 12:48 PM
Yep, that is so true, Virginia. I hardly know my next door neighbors. Wish we could go back to some of these things we enjoyed most long ago. Thanks for your kind thoughts.
Poet Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 3:05 AM
This image is just too perfect, still encapsulated in time, older resources seem to be better than the new one:) a superb poem Milton
Hankins Avatar
April 19, 2021 at 9:18 AM
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Lasaad. This is a picture indelibly framed in my subconscious from when I was a child.
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