Childhood Memories Poem by Owen Cullimore

As a child I lived in an old farmhouse
I was just three years old
The earliest memory that lately
In my mind begins to unfold
A creaky old place that made noises at night
Bumps and creaks, phantom footsteps would keep me awake
Shadows caused by lit candles caused such a fright
In winter there would be frost on the bedroom windows
And frozen condensation on the glass pane inside
Formed a picture of sorts which shone in the moonlight
Which freightened me greatly and sometimes I cried
I would pull up the blankets and cuddle up tight
Cocooned in my bedclothes I felt safe from harm
So as to keep warm and hide from the cold frosty night
As the old house creak which was part of its charm
As time went by and the older I became
Things started to change for the better all became clear
It was all in my mind's eye Just dreams and nightmares
Just brought on by fear
Downstairs was the Kitchen the main room in the house
With a big old wooden table a bit worse for wear
And an old Arga stove where all meals were prepared
And in the corner an old rocking chair
The front room was used for a Bar like a pub
Which on a Saturday night could be lively and noisy to boot
Where Dominoes and Darts were played freely
And occasionally someone played a tune on a flute
Outside in the Cowsheds three cows stood and surveyed
About thirty Chickens out in an enclosed pen
Which Calliban our black and white Border Collie
Would wake up and check on now and again
At six years old I learned how to milk a cow
An experience I never fail to remember
And to drive a tractor whilst pulling a plough
And picking freezing Brussle Sprouts in mid December
Mostly I remember Harvest time collecting the hay
From the three fields that we had just over the road
My Childhood memories are never forgotten
Memories remain with me like a heavey load
Their Etched in my mind forever like a picture
I was nine when I left our old house in the lane
And I remember it as if it was yesterday
And oh how I long to be that child again.