Dum Dums

In my Dum Dums years
with patches of Calamine lotion    
wearing Buster Brown shoes
and a Bandaid for a knee
 
with a pocketful of pops  
and yo-yo on a string  
pollen making me sneeze
 
potluck for dinner
avocados are a bummer
little sister wants a squeeze  
 
test patterns on TV I can't read
with a piece of clay named Gumby
no time for Greensleeves  
 
in my Dum Dums years
when I was called Hennie
and pops were a penny

Dad got a hernia
Mom got a crockpot    
Granny got gravestone  
and I learned to believe...
in God