A tinge of jealousy tugs at me
I watch them laugh
and run and play
And recall MY salad days
Yet those treasured days live on
in my lifestyle now
‘Cos all they let me eat today
~ is salad anyhow
long in the attic,
now unboxed,
treasure trove of
old Polaroid photographs;
priceless!
pulled from
the gaping mouth of oblivion.
one family album,
in particular,
sucks me into the vortex
of nostalgic memories.
instantaneously,
I'm spirited back
to my salad days.
ah, my youth...
an opulence of memories;
fun times with Dad,
and Mom, too.
oh, wow, a family portrait...
look at how young we all look!
questions, questions, questions...
so many rhetorical questions
flood my mind...
"who took this one?"
"where was this?"
"what became of some of these folks?"
"how many are still living?"
bringing a smile...
baby photos of mine,
a kindergarten photo.
bringing a tear...
photos of long deceased relatives;
I miss them so!
precious moments in time
I wish I could relive.
photos I haven't seen
since childhood;
many taken before I was born
hit me like a jolt of electricity!
some, faded
some, still vividly clear
i smile at so many young frozen faces
- familiar and strange -
smiling back at me.
myriad of emotions
on my face
as I rummage through
a dusty box of memories.
SARTORIAL SELF-PORTRAIT
Even as a young man,
I dressed just like my dad.
‘Clothes are what defines you,’
Was a saying my mother had.
But now I’ve retired from the city,
Perhaps it’s time to break free.
So I’m looking through my wardrobe
To find out what defines me.
Here’s a row of pin-striped suits,
Three-piece, in the main.
With waistcoats with a pocket,
For a watch on the end of a chain.
And now the shirts, all white of course,
With collars that detach.
Long sleeves with fancy cuff links
And a smart tie pin to match.
There’s a lingering smell of moth balls
As I move along the rails.
Especially in the section
Where I keep my top hat and tails.
Even at home I wear a tie,
Though, to help me to relax,
I have a long-sleeved cardigan
And a pair of well-cut slacks.
But, right at the end, in a cover,
To make sure it doesn’t fade,
A memory of a brief interlude,
When I wasn’t quite so staid.
A reminder of my salad days,
When I lived life with a passion.
I’ve kept those flares for fifty years,
In case they come back in fashion.
The next morning when I begin to Rise,
I shall ask my mind to be more Wise.
As I follow the ideologies of Life,
I elucidate to myself not to Strive.
Peace of mind is merely what I Need,
To forget the assault of today's Greed.
I run and run in search of a little Fun,
But the horrors of the mind let me have None.
Adjustments and compromises have become My companions Now,
Yet the spark of Life is being embraced Somehow.
Take me to back to the journey of My salad Days,
Growing up has certainly snatched My Delighted Place.
Shall I wait for the day, not to be Shy,
Or with the wings of the Lord, Do I Fly?
Now I mock the fantasy of Growing up as a Child,
As I realize, Adulthood is merely a prison for the Wild.
What should have been my Salad Days (but I was young, not wise)
were filled with pizza, nachos, pastries, candy bars and fries!
Many years I spent repenting when those days were through,
and there are not too many diets that I did not do!
However, in my 60’s, I found at last the key
to losing weight most healthily and effectively.
Priority I usually give to plant-based foods. My goals
are eating things organic and lots of vegetables.
Love smoothies, stir-fry, home-made soups (tomato, broccoli
and so much more). My Salad Days I’m living happily!
June 2, 2019
For Pick A Tile, Vol 5 - Verse Poetry Contest
Sponsor: Edward Ibeh
SALAD DAYS
Remembrances of my salad days can’t enrapture me.
Compound fractures in heart when compelled to brawl,
though healed in the long run have left deep scars.
I walked all alone strolling in whirling storm
to mourn or to exult, yet strong soul was sworn.
Seeds of courage and zeal were sown in my conscience
solacing my sad salad days struggling forlorn.
Little sprinkles of love also spread pretty polka dots of joy.
Confident tune resonated in rhapsody of life
walking all alone, sometimes resting in sojourn.
05/26/19
Third Place
'Pick A Tile Vol.5 Verse' Contest by Edward Ibeh
MY SALAD DAYS
I was silly, little stupid
I was naughty, little timid
I was choosy, little crazy
I was fussy, little lazy
I was raw, unpolished
My salad days most cherished
I questioned, I observed
Some Wisdom I gathered
Few mistakes, few lessons
A lifetime experience!
Date:28th October 2016
For Contest 229 any form,any topic max of 10 lines
Sponsored by: Brian Strand
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