Best Nostalgiamom Poems
Ride with me on my time machine to a different time and place
Return with me and let me see if I can put a smile upon your face
To the days of AM radio and the TV was black and white
To lying in a grassy field and counting stars at night
Popcorn and soda in the balcony at a Saturday matinee
Parades led by the High School Band on Decoration Day
Dressing up and going door to door on the night of Halloween
Cigarettes rolled in your shirt, pretending to be James Dean
Pep rallies before the football games, everybody stand and cheer
Going in the woods with your friends at night, sharing a quart of beer
That feeling inside, turning red, when she smiled at you at the dance
Wanting to kiss her goodnight, but you were afraid to take a chance
Playing chase tag at night in the neighborhood, hiding behind a tree
Holding hands with your first steady, so all your friends could see
Medicine Show at the end of town in a giant canvas tent
Saving pennies for a rainy day, fasting on candy for Lent
Going for a Sunday ride with Mom and Dad in the family car
Playing in the yard at night, putting lightning bugs in a jar
Drag racing on that long stretch of road, Chevy was hard to beat
Stealing peaches from a neighbor’s tree, always seemed so sweet
Riding bikes all over town, never knowing the meaning of fear
Identifying cars by their tail lights, make and model and year
News and Stooges at the theatre before the movie starts
Valentine’s day I love you written on tiny candy hearts
Easter bonnets and picking flowers for Mom on Mother’s Day
Opening day at the community pool the last weekend in May
Sock hop in the auditorium, collar up, trying to play it cool
Meeting friends at the usual place, everyday after school
Six for a quarter on the juke box, music that would move your soul
Return with me now to those glory days and the birth of rock and roll.
The skillet hung near the old wood-burning kitchen stove.
Aside from her family, Mom considered it a special trove.
With that blackened old pan she prepared delicious repasts,
That in my judicious opinion will ne'er be surpassed!
Ah, just to recall the tasty grub stewed up in that old skillet!
How it tingled my taste buds just sliding down my gullet!
The chicken, steaks and chops in that old pan she did fry,
Evoked oohs and aahs and many a contented sigh!
She liberally dolloped lard in the pan 'til she had it just right,
Then concocted stews, soups and fried taters for our delight!
Mom was never concerned about such things as saturated fat,
Or life-threatening cholesterol and such things as that!
I suppose medicos today would have a conniption fit,
If they knew of the dietary sins my Mom did commit.
She must've done something right - her spouse lived past ninety-four.
Her kids outlived the odds, each reaching four score years or more!
Self-anointed wizards deem cast iron skillets detrimental to our health,
But I think they're just peddling new fads to add to their wealth!
My dear spouse uses her old iron skillet most every day.
I feel fit as a banjo regardless of what so-called experts may say!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved
The shows I watched when young were black and white.
About five channels came on day and night.
The Beaver, Opie, Jeanie, Flying Nun
were characters I liked both good and fun.
Shows of humor sometimes missed their function;
one like that for sure was “Petticoat Junction.”
But “Laugh-In,” “Lucy,” and “Bewitched” were cool;
“Three Stooges” I rushed home for after school.
“Lassie” for the kiddies, “Rifleman” for dad,
“The Man From U.N.C.L.E” for us all, a 60’s fad.
By standards of today, those shows were tame.
The raciest perhaps was “The Dating Game!”
One genius fat guy, Hitchcock, gave a thrill
with horror tales. I like those re-runs still!
But there’s one 60s TV show that I
recall the best; I’ll finish telling why!
“Bonanza,” broadcast Sundays, was the one
for romance, drama, and great family fun,
for on the Ponderosa lived wise Ben
and his three sons, well-off but simple men.
The chubby one named Hoss was kind of sweet.
The oldest, Adam, I found really neat!
Little Joe, whom we girls would like to marry,
later moved to “Little House on the Prairie!”
It may not have been best of old TV,
but it was sure a cherished show for me
because it came each Sunday night at eight,
a special time so great I could not wait!
My mom and dad and we eight kids would sit
together happily enjoying it.
Before the show began my mom would pop
a huge pan full of popcorn, butter on top.
Each time commercials came, we’d dip a bowl
of ours into that pan; I’d get so full
for I’d eat eight or ten small bowls of it.
Once I begin with popcorn, I can’t quit!
This was the family custom I lived for
since television and food I both adore.
It was the night we all together sat
enthralled, and there’s not much that can beat that!
Written by Andrea Dietrich
(I have too many today to name TV favorites but I really
think "Bonanza" has to be my favorite from my childhood!)
For Michael J. Falotico's "Ryhme Me An Old TV SHow.... Poetry Contest"
Uninvited Picnic Guest
By Dane Smith-Johnsen
One sunny day, perfect for a picnic,
Across the street from shaded woodland trails,
Mom, two friends, and we kids had a picnic.
All were enjoying fun beside the lake.
We girls were sharing our deepest secrets.
Whispering, giggling eleven year olds.
Our brothers had been running around.
Trying to get in on the snickering.
We shooed them away to find their own fun!
Girl-talk was strictly that back in those days.
The boys ran over to the waters edge.
Skipping rocks to see who was number one!
Both boys were skilled rock skippers. Oh, what fun!
We decided to give it a try, too.
It was fun, but the boys liked it better.
We joined Mom around the barbecue grill.
It wasn't long before rock skipping stopped.
The boys tried to see who had the best aim.
So, they threw rocks at a log in the lake.
They were both pretty good shots.
Suddenly, Mom screamed, “Run! Go climb a tree!”
We didn't know why, but four children ran!
Brave Mom stood, squared off staring at the log.
Looking back, we could see the “logs'” two eyes.
Mom and the gator, motionless, glaring,
It was a duel of stares we kids watched.
Our hearts were thumping, seeing her there.
Mom eaten by a gator was my fear.
Time seemed endless as she retained her ground.
Up on his legs to take a better look.
Dead silent children felt the air of fright.
Would we go home with our mom tonight?
Then the alligator began to move.
Step by step he at the edge of the lake.
Slowly, deciding, he made his first move.
One step back and he sunk beneath the tarn.
Hallelujahs, Mom won. And we went home!
When all the chores were done and the sun had settled in the west,
Folks would round up their kids for the weekly family quest.
Saturday night downtown was looked forward to with anticipation.
It was almost akin to going on the annual family vacation!
Each kid would be given fifty-cents to spend as they chose.
Maybe for popcorn and a movie at one of the picture shows!
Dad would be in bib-overalls and Mom in a pretty calico,
Strolling Main Street greeting neighbors with a hearty, "Hello!"
Dad would saunter to the hardware to view the latest in tools.
Mom would visit the dry goods store to drool over ginghams and tulles.
At the grocery store, Mom shopped for eats amid all the clutter,
Bartering for the weekly fare with her cream, eggs and butter!
Before heading home, to make the night really complete,
They would gather at the ice cream parlor for a tasty treat!
The folks snuggled in the front seat - the kids happily chattered,
Anticipating next Saturday night - to them that was all that mattered!
Then, life moved at a slower pace - such simple times are family lore.
The Five-and-Dime stores with squeaky floors aren't around anymore.
Crowded malls are now the latest and greatest innovations -
Not owned by a congenial neighbor, but by distant corporations!
Robert L. Hinshaw, CMSgt, USAF, Retired
© All Rights Reserved