Childhood Memories Poem by Evelyn Macdonald

As I cast my mind back to my childhood days
with links too strong forged to sever
I long to be back in some childlike time
where days seemed to stretch forever

I wish I could somehow re-live the past
I would savour each wonderful minute
each memory a page in my book of life
as I cherish the child that is in it

The long drawn out days of summer return
in my mind spent with chums at the beach
gathering sea shells and other fine stuff
with the tide rolling back out of reach

Dressing up games in mom's old dance clothes
I remember the black chiffon well
My friend wore the petticoat, I wore the dress
and in high heels we both felt real swell

The cat in the dolls pram, curled asleep
dressed up in a coat and a hat
I'd push him around for hours at a time
he never got tired of that

The park was my playground, my jungle of grass
fantasies came alive at my play
galloping on an imaginary horse
being 'Roy Rogers' that day

Or 'Sheena, Queen of the Jungle' I'd be
and be ruler of all I survey
Tracking tigers and lions within my domain
being comic book 'queen' for a day

Exchanging my comics, a rare treat for me
surrounded by new ones unread
savouring stories of ghostly delight
while tucked up all snug in my bed

Saturday matinees, those were the days
smarties and crisps for the show
a pop, and an ice cream, then fish n' chips
contented as homeward I go

Today as I think about former school friends
who have all gone their separate way
I wonder if they at some point in their day
recollect their own childhood play

There are thousands of memories locked in my heart
and each one a story untold
If I had an artist's conception of life
I'd draw pictures as memories unfold

From the happy, contented, girl of my youth
to the woman I've turned out to be
I'm grateful to wonderful memories
locked deep in the child that is me.