School Boys

 Children skipping in the street
childish games of hop-scotch
marbles in the gutters
on the way to school
spinning tops and tennis balls
satchels down for goal posts.
Lunch box with an apple
and so to school they went
to keep the school-board man away.
stand in lines don't shuffle
upon the gravel play ground
your knees still pitted with the stones
shoe check last and in to class
three Rs and milk
third of a pint with cardboard top;
then play ground games
and bleeding knees again,
salted slides in winter
drawing afternoons, crayon, coloured pencils
your picture on the wall for parents day.
Home at half passed three
soccer on the way
scuffing up our shoes,
hide the ball spit upon your hanky
find the shoe box quick!
Mum's bringing in the washing.
feed the rabbits put the buck
in with the doe, doesn't it look funny?
quick put them back ,here's Mum !
take Joff for a walk she scolds
but I think I saw a smile.
Tie him to a tree.........
soccer match 'til tea time.
sit to read a book
or dinky toys and aeroplanes
wash, pyjamas, cod-liver oil,
kiss for Mum and Dad
glass of water by the bed
freezing in the winter,
howling cats and steam train whistles
secret teddy bear to cuddle
hidden in a drawer
no one knows but Mum.