Blue Skies and Green Fields

Me on the left Tony in the middle and Kerny on the right

Tony and I got up that day

As we looked for something to do

then with Kerny, took a journey

to the edge of the world we knew

I had brought a pack of cigarettes

we pilfered from the night before

From a red shirt, covered in dirt

his brother had left on the floor

 

As with all young boys of the time

we thought smoking would make us cool

And so we choked, as each one smoked

and acted then played the fool

Kerny brought along some fireworks

which were great for blowing up cans

Oh each could see, we were the three

who always had great master plans

 

On the lane that led to the house

were double rows of cherry trees

each infested, there they nested

with tent worms and a few with bees

It didn’t take much of a thought

to imagine routing them out

We made a torch, up on the porch

we would take care of them no doubt

 

We soaked the torch in gasoline

lit that baby and let it burn

“Oh yeah” we said, “they'll soon be dead”

as we each torched the trees in turn

When we had finished with that chore

flaming lollipops came to mind

As all the worms, then met our terms

there were none left for us to find

 

We were right proud of what we'd done

headed off for the house to gloat

So we the worst, quenched our thirst

there by the pond we called the moat

The day was only half over

after lunch we had plans to roam

So off we went, without repent

down the hill away from his home

 

We took the riding lawnmower

down the hill that led to the creek

Each full of fire, we'd never tire

there was no mercy for the weak

We used the mower to pull out

the bushes that blew in the breeze

then threw them off, the winding trough

where the creek had played through the trees

 

The only problem with this plan

came when we noticed all we'd done

For if we could, trumped if we should

though it was in the name of fun

luckily it was getting dark

the mosquitoes had taken flight

We'd done our best, gave it a rest

went back home and called it a night

 

There were always things to do then

around the hundred acre wood

With luck we'd keep, forgoing sleep  

and would live as we thought boys should

For there we tasted happiness

without television or phone

tested our strength, to such great length

that our muscles ached to the bone

 

So now we look back in dismay

as America's kids grow fat

We don't know why, our kids won't try

or why one might act like a brat

  They lack what we took for granted

the reward work and toil both yields

The right to play, every day

under blue skies on green fields

To Tony's mother Gladys in Heaven."Thank you for the love you shared with me and every child that ever crossed your doorstep." Here was a beautiful life!

Author's Note

My days as a child were filled by adventures. Some turned out good some bad. This one we pulled small trees and bushes out to throw over the bank where the creek took a hard turn. We wanted to keep the bank from eroding. However we kept going till we had torn out god knows how many trees and bushes. Too Many! But like most of the adventures we had we were plenty tired when we finished..It is this loss of activity that makes Americas children overweight. If we keep going the way we are our children will one day go to detox for being addicted to their phones.

Reviews

[lee von cleef]

Shy guy flipping me off (Kerny) I knew that kid , I was that kid , I 've been whipped for that "Photo Bomb" but today that is past, not even rebellious, oh boys fit a mold, and grow to be like the men around them , or the absence of them, don't mean to make the girls feel guilty they will do it all on their own.but boys need to play hard , the life they will be expected to live will be hard, so let em fall, cry , get tough,and drive anything that runs, ride anything with hair,and sleep in the thick night air ,sip water at every stream, they will need a strong belly full of a diversity of e coli to survive the world we are going to leave em. Good job Tate.

[Eddie Phillips]

lovely story and sweet poem. It reminds me of a more simple time.

[Alicia Schroeder]

As always your writing is wonderful :)

[SteveB]

You brought me back to the days of riding our bikes up to Riis PArk, smoking cheap cigars in the circle of trees and dreaming big dreams to be followed with endless games of stickball. Thank you for painting such a vivid picture of ours, the last generation to be raised without being tethered to electronics.
Yet another strong vivid slice of life write.

[N!LoC]

wow... that is one long story poem... very nice!

[TL Boehm]

Yup, I remember being outside all day with my friends, exploring, rambling about. I still wish I could do that instead of spending my days chained to a tiny desk in a small office expending all my energy for the benefit of someone else. This was a wonderful poem Tate. It made me miss my childhood.

[David Scott]

I enjoyed the poetry up to the end...
The last stanza is not fair to this generation of kids.
You don't know why a child might be "fat".
I was like you. Outside all day every day...
I was teased as a fat kid. My children were "fat" babies and my daughter although very active, is called fat all the time. It is judgmental and arrogant.

Our children need love and understanding. No matter what their generational tendencies. The world changes... Some for the better and some for the worse.
Even in your childhood children in urban areas did not play in the fields all day.
Be thankful you had such joy on your life. Do not condemn others who "seem" less than your perfection...
I am disappointed to see this type of prejudice from your pen.
I understand what you intended to say, but you could say it without attacking children or their parents.

[Rene Velez]

image driven write Tate, yeah I loved being outdoors with my friends, basketball, frisbee football, yeah that was fun.

[Richard Layne]

very well written. i like the verse it goes along with the rollicking nature of the story itself. And of course we all need more exercise especially the kids--promote it!--and less of the horrible but easy foods we make available to them.

[minisla]

Practically identical to my childhood. Everywhere we went was an adventure. Imaginative creatures we were. Loved this brought back a few good memories.

[Sam]

A timeless memory that will forever live in the 100 acre woods. Oh the stories you could ones that video games can't even touch. The imagination.. the fun... so hard to describe the this age of youth. Love the story. You are sad yet true the youth are getting fat and becoming brats thanks to modern technologies.
Thank you for sharing this touching story and in such a rhyme and a flow. Great job.