The Days Of My Youth Poem by Merl Guth

Ever so often I ponder my youth, and think back to times now long past,
of long sunny days and star covered nights, that seemed to go by much to fast.

The family rule was that fun had to wait till a list of chores were completed.
Mom kept an eye on the list and my work in case I got wise and then cheated.

I hurried to finish my long list of chores, designed to make me a man.
A man who took pride in the things that he did and finished the job he began.

These were the days before phones and the like and life lived all by your thumbs.
As I yearned to be outside in the sun
and spending the time with my chums.

Or an afternoon ride on my favorite horse, bareback and without any shoes.
The entire world lay at there at my feet,
I could do anything that I could choose.

There were those days I spent out in the creek, trying to keep myself cool.
Long hikes in the hills with the family dog or petting Chiquita the mule.

There was never a thought of a boring day, a screen didn't rule my life.
I could always find something to build with my tools or carve with my ol' pocket knife.

As the setting sun made the shadows look long, I knew that my dinner was nigh.
I had better be making my way back to home or risk missing a piece of mom's pie.

I fished, I hiked and I hunted, and I learned what it meant to be busy.
I wrung every drop out of every day,
to the point that it made me feel dizzy.

I was taught the rewards of a hard days work and received a hard days pay,
weeding the garden, moving sprinkler pipe or bucking up bales of hay.

I spent many a day on a raft with my dad, my friend, my hero and teacher.
Dad taught me the ways of honorable men.
and to track just about every creature.

I look back with fondness at the days of my youth and miss the ease of the day,
and give my thanks to so many back then that made me what I am today.