These Memories Did Not Come Cheap Poem by Lawrence S. Pertillar

These memories did not come cheap.
Not a one arrived with Little Bo Peep!
And Tommy Tucker I was...
I sang for my supper!
And did a little more than that,
If I didn't want my backside slapped.

My parents weren't the kind
To count from one to ten.
My father had us laughing a lot...
But my mother was no comedienne.
She whipped our asses.
Especially when my sister and I,
Made bad choices to go for a jog!
When sprinting was mother's specialty!

These memories did not come cheap to me.
Not when finding myself young with adult responsibilites.
A work ethic was adhered to in our home.
I was dared as a child anytime I felt grown...
Either bite my lip or the front door was shown.
And even when I did get grown,
I never showed anyone disrespect...
And it wont be accepted,
If in my face it's to be thrown.

I'm not prone to ducking!

These memories did not come cheap!
Not to me.
And they wont be sold that way either!