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.

[Baby Ricochet]

Ah. Blowing s**t up and lighting stuff on fire. Does it ever get old?

[Holly Mason]

beautiful dedication to your childhood days...
wholesome youth- boys will be boys comes to mind...*)
the youth today has changed...but they also get into deep trouble for almost everything...just being caught with a book of matches ...whoah trouble
you are such an amazing story teller....what a nice Sunday morning read
artfully crafted for readers enjoyment....as always
thank you for sharing fine sir , truly

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

Ah, the good old days! What a wonderful memory you have penned! Sadly, most of todays' children will never know the pleasure (and pain!) of physical play. Great flow and timing, nicely presented with photos and music.

[Dayran]

A nice reminiscence of the young days ... but you realize Tate, we didn't have video games then. A nice poem well structured with a beat that seemed to thump along with every word.

[SyberRose]

I enjoyed reading about your childhood days Tate...All kids are fascinated with cigs...ive never smoked but at about thirteen and fourteen I use to try it once in a while with my best friend...or even in my bathroom if i stole my dads cigs...ha...you guys were cutie pies ha...hey it rhymed haa...I didnt have any green fields though...I lived in the city...Children today will be in bad shape physically from not enough exercise...they dont need a curfew...like we used to have...they never go out haa....Rose

[s y e]

This is a great write, Tate - It's funny some of the stories you tell as parents, and sometimes how you look back and you're stunned that you done some of the things you did. As children we do have adventures that are filled with adventures, of course we all have our adventures that turn out horribly wrong and others that were great.

This is a great piece, I loved the wording and structure of your write. I loved it, Tate - well done.

~ Noodle.

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

So very true, Tate... Today's youth don't have it as we had it...even though you may be a generation beyond me, I still grew up in much the way that you did. I came home when the sun went down, rode my horse all day long back and forth to friends houses up and down a dirt road. I played in the dirt and never got sick, jumped from rocks into lakes and swung from tire swings...it was a different time. It is sad that is being lost. You write this with an honest hand, my friend...well done.

[A Soap Mess Stories]

We did have quite a childhood without cellphones and PC's ...your adventures remind me of my brother who papassed away 30 years ago today...he was always having adventures with his friends ...great experiences!

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this is quite the adventure...immediate remorse right after, but later a good story, and like you said, some turned out good some bad, but at least we had adventures...we didn't sit in front of computers and video games, inert.

good stuff, Tate.

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Now those are the "good ol' boys" Tater tot! I love, love, love this piece!

The picture sets the spark and fuels the adventure... WOW! This has a wonderful message as well as a
magnetic song to compliment the memories. Top Notch write! ~xoxo~:))