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!

[Island Hippy]

You are ‘salt of the earth’ and that’s so much to be grateful for and proud of Chris. My memories of the holidays (as a child) are very similar and they are some of the most precious memories I have. My UK gran played the piano I chuckle thinking of that because she was the only one with any musical talent. I think I was 8 when we had a combined Christmas my UK family came to Hawai’i and all I remember is laughter. Many Mahalo for your uplifting words. xo

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Izzy, and you also had a UK gran who played piano7 Pleased to take you on a nostalgia trip and also good to know you found this old poem of mine uplifting. Many thank yous.

Chris

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Hooray for “earth’s plain salt”! I’m a grain of it and proud to be. You bring back so many wonderful Christmas memories in your beautifully written poem dear Chris. Your form, meter, rhyme, imagery are sosuperb. There are many similarities to the Christmases of the 50’s That I enjoyed in the Bronx- doors wide open, family, neighbors, too much food and drink, conga lines and us kids under the table watching it all. I miss it like you do my friend. We certainly were the lucky ones!

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you dear Annette. Wonderful memories we share of Christmas way back then. It really pleased me to know that you enjoyed that nostalgic trip.

Chris

[Onlyme]

Excellent poem Chris, furtherly enjoy it to the max. So you should be proud Chris. Well said Chris. Your down to earth, honest, kind, decent and a sweet loving lady. And I for one, Am proud you're my friend. Bugger to being a snobby and all that pooh. I would rather be like we are normal. Your family sounded bloody great to me.

[Chris Shaw]

Salt of the earth Londoners they were Dawn. No airs or graces. Fabulous people. Miss them so much. Many thanks for your lovely review.

Chris

[Lyn Anderson]

I can relate. I like the tradition and the food and family, but the rest of it. Bah humbug.

[Chris Shaw]

Thanks Lyn. Too commercial these days isn't it? Some of the magic has gone. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[Beccy]

Things change, the world spins ever faster commercially. Christmas is no different. It cannot escape the rampant cynicism that now rules all. The last dollar, the bottom line, the corporate chasing of that pot of gold so the snouts in the trough can continue to take their greedy fill.

Such a shame really; although,( and here I speak as a parent,) there is still joy to be had in the innocent delight of the children as they absorb all the wonders of the festive season.

Your poem is both lovely; and a timely reminder of what is coming to pass.

Beccy.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Beccy. Christmas is still fun if you are a parent, but for me it has just become too much about expense and the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. Hope you a d your boy are OK. All good wishes

Chris

[Ted Kniffen]

I remember the anticipation at Christmas dinner at my Granddad's. The tree...a real one...usually a scotch pine...with the gifts wrapped and waiting. We kids would check the packages to see whose name was on what and wait rather impatiently while the table was cleaned up and all the dishes done, before the adults would come in. There wasn't a lot of material things...but there was a lot of fun.

Oh yes, and mincemeat pie...still my favourite.

Thanks for the memory.

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to revive that memory for you Ted. We had a lot of fun too back then, without it costing an arm or leg. My relatives certainly knew how to party :)

Chris

[john l smith]

Reminds me of the chaos that seems to erupt on Xmas morn with presents and wrapping and screams and shouts and dogs and cats and food galore
All good times
Dave

[Chris Shaw]

Good times indeed Dave. Thank you for checking in. All the best.

Chris

[Gee]

Love it, a proper old fashioned combo with the requisite knees up.
They must have been a ball to attend, more so for the 34 cut adults.
A top Christmas write Christine.
Hope you are well and not over exerting yourself :))

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased you enjoyed this one Gee. One I dragged out of the archives. All's well here and I haven't got started yet! Busy is waiting round the corner :)

[Gee]

Busy has just left me, done dinner, been excercising, completed some paperwork, walked the pooch, collected the 3 wimmin from the train station ( they stayed in Brum last night after watching the overtones !!)
I'm knackered

[Chris Shaw]

Put your feet up, I'll let you :)

[Papaya]

I remember being stuffed 4 to a bed with my cousins during such family parties.
I really enjoyed this.

[Chris Shaw]

A little bit of nostalgia Ana. I don't write Christmas poems very often, but I dug this one out of the archives. Those were the days. Thank you.

Chris

[Papaya]

You're welcome. :)