The Early Years Poem by Patricia Sampson

The Early Years
I recall the days in the village when we were just young kids
Together We popped tar bubbles in the road
and from our parents we hid
we stripped our neighbours plum tree
then wondered why the pain
but that never stopped us,
from going back again
I remember my brother teaching me
how to climb the trees
and how to hang from branches
yet I barely reached his knees
he showed me playing cricket
and how to throw the ball
He helped me with my reading
and other stuff at school
There was one car in the village
that caught my brothers eye
he was barely nine years old
but he had to give it a try
We would run around the chicken farm
and collect up all the eggs
we ended the day in the old tin bath
and scrubbed our arms and legs
One day we moved to a brand new house
several miles away
I remember it clearly
it was almost Chrismas day
Our father caught Allan smoking
and couldn'y believe his eyes
So he shouted and waved his finger
much to Allans surprise
My brother found a rusty dart
and then he took aim
he went and missed his target
and made me very lame
He took me to the Doctors
by carrying me on his back
he made sure I got an injection
and a bandage pack
Well this was my brother
always full of fun
as I remember him
when we were so young.