I remember England

My Father taught and studied there on an exchange in 1964.

I was a little boy from the desert,

the greenery still dazzles my mind.

We rented a house in Harpenden.

The yard was overgrown, 

with a loaded Apple tree,

awaiting hungry Children. 

I recall pulling back the sheets in my room.

I'd never seen bedbugs before.

I argued with the Housekeeper, 

about the pronunciation of 'banana'.

I remember three wheeled Cars,

a forest grove at the end of the lane,

newly made friends,

and the Ice Cream truck 

that came 'round in the afternoon.

I remember London.

Workers were beginning 

to scrub the buildings, 

as the coal soot was unsightly. 

Riding on the upper level on a bus, 

was the coolest thing for an American boy.

Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the river Thames.

And of course, the London Bridge.

All these images and more, 

deep in the fabric of my mind.

I loved England.

I will return, someday.

Author's Note

The London Bridge now spans a backwater near Lake Havasu City, Arizona. It just doesn't seem right.

The photo is a stock photo from 1967, before the bridge was disassembled. It reminded me of my Mother and I.

Reviews

[...]

. beautiful words for beautiful memories ... i haven't been to london but i have memories of another city ... new york ... i remember my mother and i were just walking around and suddenly we were face to face with mahatma gandhi's statue ... it's somewhere near first street if i recall correctly ... i remember playing chess with strangers in washington square part ... was surreal ...

[Christina May Shanaberg]

What a beautiful tribute, in light of the recent riots in London. My mom called to tell me, simply, "London is on fire!" Bless you London and many of American's native country, England, may you be at peace again, soon. A beautiful write and why can't we just give the London Bridge back to London? Can you image, if someone took our Statue of Liberty away. And, thank you France for the beautiful gift! Great write all around, Author's Notes and all!!

[Samuel Dickens]

Often I think the old memories are the sweetest. I made it to Scotland once, but never to England, the origin of my name. Sure would like to go. London bridge is a lot closer. You're quite the traveler, John.

[Lilly Negoi]

never been there, but somehow your poem gave me the feeling i had been...

[Robin]

I remember England too , some of my oldest memories , thanks for sharing yours .

[Brad]

came very close to marrying a london westie...she was pretty, rich, but very very snobbish. i also spoke with the London Metro about working as a cop there....oh those paths we take in life...if you go i'm coming with!

[.]

London is burning my friend..this is no longer a place to visit..your memories are just that memories..it is heartbreaking what is happening to our capital city..

[Kerry O'Connor]

London.

The name itself is deeply embedded in the psyche of anyone who has Anglo-Saxon roots. It's a cry from the heart of the old country. I hear it too, way down south in Africa.

[Marie Harrison]

What a lovely poem, such a treasure to have this picture of your Mother and you near the bridge too. I loved the personal account of this poem and the image in my mind of the soot being cleaned from the buildings. Beautiful poem!

[emmajoy]

Apart from the bedbugs - yuck! - what a great look back to your visit. Laughed at the pronunciation of 'banana', grinned at the thought of you riding around London looking at the famous sights from the top deck of one of our red buses!
Such great memories included and what a great piece of writing, memories wrapped in such fine phrases. And, what's more, many thanks for wanting to come back to England, John.