Going Back To My Roots

Christmas in the fifties in London, one from the archives.

It's just as I remember this home of long ago,

the thoughts still warm my spirits when I'm feeling low.

I hear the Christmas knees-up, late relatives at play,

I'm sitting on their doorstep, the ghosts are back today.

All handing round their presents, the laughter and the jokes,

the tinsel and the baubles, the dog-ends of the smokes.

My Grandad sports his braces, a pint glass in his hand

as I eat bowls of jelly, with fruit from out a can.

There's Stephen stuffed on pork pie, our Mum will have a fit,

Aunt Alice sloshed on sherry, she's getting on a bit.

Let's do the okey-cokey, we all stand in a ring,

my Nan leads on piano, not one of them can sing.

Now in come all the neighbours, the place is tightly packed,

the booze is on the dresser, the sandwiches are stacked.

The front door is wide open, we conga in the street

and everyone is having fun, it is our Christmas treat.

Us young ones find a table and hide beneath its top

and stay there telling stories until the music stops.

Then Nan comes to our rescue as we go off to bed,

there's four of us, one mattress, we snuggle head to head.

I'm unsophisticated but don't think that's a fault.

It's something that I'm proud of, I come from earth's plain salt.

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this brings me back to my favorite Christmases ...the ones in NY in the 50's---the folks would put up the tree on Christmas Eve...
My mom's name was Alice, by the way.
got my train set i think when i was five...it was laid down around the tree...and then every year we put it back under there.
the trees were really tall ones as we had 14 foot ceilings...my dad would get up on a step ladder to put the angel on top of the tree.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Jacob, sharing your childhood Christmas days. My aunt Alice was a favourite. Somehow Christmas just doesn't have the same sparkle anymore. Those knees ups were a bloomin joy. Everyone dressed up too!

[Nolo Segundo]

Lovely, quite lovely! Christmas really does hold some the best childhood memories.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Nolo. I appreciate your visit. All good wishes.

Chris

[Jade]

I really love this write, fun and light hearted...
You have talent, enjoyed this

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you so much Brandie Jade. Pleased to see you visit. All good wishes

Chris

[NotUsinganymore]

Very Christmassy poem! I enjoyed it, I kind of want to get into the Christmas spirit.

[Chris Shaw]

I hope you get in the Christmas spirit soon. Thank you for your review. All good wishes.

read moreI hope you get in the Christmas spirit soon. Thank you for your review. All good wishes.

Chris

[¿]

I've never read such heartfelt words about Christmas before....
How swiftly things got changed in these more than fifty years, no?
I feel that you're missing your roots and childhood a lot this time... perhaps you do at every Christmas?
Burden of responsibilities kept increasing on your shoulders....and life went on and on.....
A warm hug to you dear Chris....enjoy your merry times with grand children....have plenty of happiness.....Merry Christmas in advance :)

[Chris Shaw]

Many thanks dear Tahsin for your lovely review. All warm wishes to you too.

Chris

[¿]

You're always welcome dear one :)

[Dave]

What a wondrous time of year! The glorious memories it conjures up for us. I remember, so well when I was the only one of four children and I had a rabbit. I was at my grandmothers' and she had a wonderful dog, Dukey. Dukey delighted in chasing the rabbit around the Christmas tree bringing squeals of laughter from all of us, thankfully never knocking the tree down.
Thanks for making us remember - Merry Christmas to you and yours - Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Dave for your response and sharing your lovely memories. All the best to you.

read moreThank you Dave for your response and sharing your lovely memories. All the best to you.

Chris

[Samuel Dickens]

I think Christmas time is most special for the young. The bright lights all about and the fanciful music (here comes Santa Claus... Rudolph the red-nose reindeer) And then the promise of that magical night and the morning after with bountiful gifts. The way you describe yours with family and festivities, it's no wonder you love to think on those times. In my view, you were very fortunate. May the memories never fade.

[Chris Shaw]

Hello Samuel. I was very fortunate to have such fun with family at Christmas when I was young. Each year I still look back on those days and smile. Thank you for checking in. Your review very much appreciated.

Chris

[Crowley]

Oh wow, what a perfect homage to not only Christmas and family, but to the place from which we come. Many are so quick to discredit parts of our upbringing so it is pleasant to hear of the bits that made us who we are and give us the warm and glowing memories that feed our unsophisticated lives. So lovely Christine.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Crowley. London born and proud of it, as well as being very proud of my family roots.
read moreThank you Crowley. London born and proud of it, as well as being very proud of my family roots.

Chris

[emmajoy]

Those are the times to remember.. Christmas with hours of characters familial who leave a stamp on the memory for life through! Could add and echo but won't cos this is your masterpiece for this time of year, Chris. Ts a giant canvas of feelings, people and incidents.. your Family Perfect in its real life salt of the earth shape and scent. Wonderful!

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to share my family and how we used to party Em. Very happy times. No money around, but we certainly knew how to party. Thank you kindly for your visit.

Chris

[barleygirl]

This is one of the best Christmas writes I've read in my life! I love it! Your irreverent humor is delightful, delivered on a lyrical flow of rhyme & rhythm! Great details to depict one possible scene of family peculiarity! We all have 'em! The final couplet really puts a loving seal on your fun raucous scene! Thanks for warming our hearts with holiday laughter! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Hello dear Margie. Pleased to be able to share my family nostalgia and warm your heart. Loved those times and their eccentricities. They always put a smile on my face.

Chris

[Alistair (Ali)]

They really don't make em like they used to!
This made me smile, and remember my Grandad doing some bizarre form of tap dancing in a new pair of M&S slippers that he got every year for Crimble- have never really been sure what that was all about- but it happened at the same time every year!
And my old Mum, used to make some SERIOUS trifles!- with Dream Topping- hell yes!, in bowls so vast that I swear one could have popped a springboard on the rim and call it swimming pool
Lovely stuff!
Brought me a big shiny grin

All the best

Ali

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Ali for sharing your memories. Dream topping, yes, yes, yes. We used to have that too and trifle, which I still love today. Pleased to put a grin on your face Ali. All good wishes.

Chris