Chapter (3) COWBOY HAT AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS

The snow was crisp and crystal white,

on that family Christmas morning.

Across the glistening garden site

a new days light was dawning.

 

A child in cowboy hat and jacket,

held tight his father's hand.

While hens and ducks made mornings racket,

as they pecked the frozen land.

 

The boy was proud and having fun,

to help his dad on Christmas Day.

The child then took his cowboy gun,

and shot a chicken on the way.

 

Down the path through crunching snow

the boy rode hard his horse of play.

His father smiled his heart full to know

the joys of Christmas day.

 

They picked the sprouts so cold and hard,

the boy then took them to his mother.

His mother bowed and kissed the boy

who laughed, then shot his little brother.

 

The house was warm and gay inside,

And the Christmas lunch was splendid,

The family sat and watched T.V.

‘till the children’s films had ended.

 

The tired boy was tucked in bed,

wearing his cowboy hat and pyjamas.

His mother kissed his forehead.

And Said  

“If you can’t sleep, try counting Llamas.”

 

Well have you tried finding a rhyme for pyjamas.

Reviews

[grimfukle]

Ah, mad dogs and Englishmen.
I like it!

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Ha ha ha thank you.

[Beccy]

Life seems to grow more complicated with each generation. I listen to stories my mother and father tell me of their childhood. Playing outside safely, making up their own games, the innocence that remained far longer than it does today.

We do our children no favours by allowing that innocence to be eroded too quickly.

A poem full of wry humour, that also defines how important childhood is.

Beccy.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Thank you Beccy. Your words express precisely how I feel. Ain't nostalgia a wonderful thing.

[Tony Jordan]

I wish he'd have shot every sprout in existence MEM.
This is beautifully nostalgic - another world...

His mother shivered then kissed his crown -
"I wish I were in the Bahamas!"

Merry Christmas !

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Ooooo GOOD lines. THANK you.

[NotAboutMe]

Lol, I had to read your profile after reading this. I assumed you were older to get this so well. Cowboys and Indians were so much a part of my childhood. I live in the US/New England near a part of route 2 known as "The Mohawk Trail" When I was a child it was lined with tee-pees and gift shops selling moccasins, bows and arrows and all things western.

So he rode off to sleep and counted tenfold while riding atop of his Brahma =)

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Ahaaaaa another good ending, thank you. Cowboys and Indians was the main game all us village kids played at that time.

[Kelly Scheppers]

Oh, what joy there was, in taking the Christmas gift to bed with us! Why must we ever let go of those years?

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Yes we seemed to find pleasure in the simple things. Today kids sleep with smart phones, somehow it doesn't feel the same.

[R J Askew]

Brilliant recollection. How it was in more innocent times. The picture of father and son in a moment of mutual content is wonderful. If only said father could read your verses to KNOW that he did a good job of being a father and that it was not only remembered in like vein, but appreciated by others decades on in a new century, a new millennium even. There is a great but unstated lesson in the verse also for modern dads struggling with the pressures of the now - keep it simple, share the moment, grow sprouts.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

You have hit the nail on the head exactly. My dad is still with us he's 87. I'll show him the poem at Christmas. My dad loved to garden, I don't know how he found the time.

[Mikayla_Stagg]

I really enjoyed this, Wonderful Christmas memories. I especially loves the ending, such a cute way to end the poem

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Thank you for reading. I'm pleased you liked it.

[wordman]

a great mixture ,image and the Christmas poem
a great write m/e

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Hi Wordman. I was inspired, for about half an hour. It did bring back some great memories.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed this poem. Photo and words. Perfect words and thoughts for the memory of Christmas. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

Many thanks for a lovely comment. I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[Coyote Poetry]

I did enjoy and you are welcome.

[MomzillaNC]

:D I love the last line! Is that how you spell “pajamas” in the UK?

I hope you have a love filled and tranquil Christmas.

[MAD ENGLISHMAN]

yes we have a weird way of spelling it

[MomzillaNC]

Actually, I think your way makes more sense phonetically. No one pronounces it pah-jamas. It’s more like p’jamas.