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Graff1980 Sep 2018
There used to be
soft wet sand
beneath my feet
and in-between
my wriggling toes.

There used to be
teenagers
and a little me
going swimming.

Adolescents
played in
swim suits
as their bare skin
took the nibblings
of tiny fishes
that never bit me.

There used to be
a brown shack
of a building
with plastic seats
where wet buts
would wiggle
and squeak
as I got
something to eat.

We would all play
while grandparents
sat, talk,
and sometimes watched
the Lawrence Welk show.

Now that bed of water
is no longer wet.
Now it is a dusty bowl
of forgetful sorrow.
chump Jul 2016
tell the man he needs a wife
tell the horse he needs a saddle
do we owe the past our life
float down the river throw out our paddle

should i not complain
you advance i remain
stereotype me from the past
your fabulous image changing so fast

we'll be shakin to the rapper
renamed lawrence welk
its too late now to slap her
the future is all about the milk
Daan Apr 2019
Ongeacht welk hersendeel als laatste is geraakt,
papa en ik, wij zijn vanaf de eerste dag gekraakt.
Je heb zoveel voor ons gedaan.
Papa heb je geleerd *** hij samen verder hoorde te gaan,
mij *** ik op mijn eigen benen moest staan.

Wij kunnen dat hier niet alleen,
hebben al zoveel steun gekregen
van mensen, vrienden en familie bij wie we onze
donkere hoofden konden legen.

Je bent er nog, maar niet meer echt,
je schommelt tussen twee extremen.
Toch heb jij ook het recht
om waardig afscheid van ons te nemen

Mama, lief, jij was de oplosser van alle
denkbare problemen.
Nu zo zonder jou zoiets verwerken
Zal later misschien onze band versterken.
Voor nu, echter, stellen we het samen met jou
elke dag een beetje slechter.
Of minder goed.
I remember when we used to received free samples of new food and other free products to sample in the mail.

I remember three TV channels and only one black and white in the living room, with no remote. We didn't have an antenna. We'd have to call the TV repairman to come to the home put a new tube in the TV when it went out.

I remember TV Guide, when everyone looked forward to the new one every week.

I remember party lines on the telephone

I remember when we had to run to the bakery, the deli, the butcher, the greeting card, hardware store and the  grocery when we were getting ready for a birthday party. It took all day to prepare.

I remember Christmas parties in school and we had an aluminum tree with a color wheel.

The Lennon Sisters, I listened to all their Christmas Music and watched them on the Lawrence Welk Show.

Lawrence Welk

Guy Lombardo's New Years count down.

I remember when the girls had to wear dresses and the boys had to wear a dress shirt  and pants  to school.

I remember when the boys and girls were not allowed to play together on the playground.

The schools used to supply green and white striped one piece zip up gym uniforms.

We always used to wear gloves, we always went out looking our very best.

On our report card we used to be graded  in citizenship, (being nice to your fellow man)

I used to know the number to call our own phone to test it to see if it would ring. You'd call the number, hang up and it would ring you'd pick it up and you knew your phone worked.

Used to be able to use five numbers to call on the phone with in your own city.

I remember when you could hang up the phone on someone and the phone would not disconnect if they didn't also hang up.

I remember when we didn't have to use zip codes

I remember Ice Cream socials and chili Suppers.

I remember Mamie Eisenhower's signature color pink washer and dryers that we had in our home. I also remember the pink tile
that was all over our bathroom walls.

I remember having milk delivered in glass bottles to an insulated square metal box with a lid on our front steps.

I remember listening to CBS Mystery Radio theater on Sunday nights.

I remember School lunches being read on the radio before school every day.

I remember Casey Kasem Sunday music countdowns.

and .10 ice cream cones from the Dairy Queen.

My mother used to make all my clothes.

I remember  8 Track Tape players, Transistor radios and Reel to Reels, Super 8 movie cameras, and movie projectors, and my first polaroid camera.

Dropping off a roll of film, or a movie reel and wait for several weeks before we got it back in the mail.

I remember S&H Green Stamps and going to buy furniture or TV's at the store.

I remember when all the stores were closed on Sundays and every holiday.
I remember when TV went off and midnight and came back on at 6 am.
I remember when drivers ed was in school.

Christmas Clubs that the bank offered so you could save your money throughout the year for Christmas.

There were no malls, you'd have to walk up and down the sidewalks to buy what you wanted.

Cigarette Machines in the hotel lobby

25 cent telephone calls from a telephone booth

.45 pack of cigarettes

Danner's 5 and Dime, real fresh and hot thinly sliced roast beef sandwiches served with a bowl of chili.

Tin star Restaurant that served the best roast beef sandwiches, before Arby's

Used to watch Popeye The Sailor man, Mr. Magoo, Felix the Cat, Road Runner.

Jack LaLane's exercise program
Julia Child's cooking program

I remember when there were automatic horse rides outside of the grocery store. You'd put a quarter in and your child could sit on it and ride for a minute.

Betamax and VHS machines
Reel to Reels
Howard Cosell
Jackie Gleason (and away we go) To the moon alice! bang zoom
wing dings

Bob Hope, Milton Burle (Uncle Milte) Jack Lemon, Danny Thomas, Jack Benny, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett

The Rat Pack
work in progress
Walk the Walk

Laurence Welk tiny bubbles
A poison firm glow
bust up the beat
Breaking into the night
better relax...
one ego foster the compared unknown
we both hear the march
masked in the dark
tempted  to behave
Shadow to scream
safe from the almighty
not the Blair Witch Project
one step at a time
flood the lips unkind
search in the river for gold
gone are those days
frolic in the fold
charming to uphold...
round the tree
****** to test
now is the time to rest
Mary Anne Norton Aug 2020
You carefully kneaded bread
Green for St Patrick's day
For our family and teachers
Hands to hold crossing
The street to get the bus
Praying the Rosary
And dancing to Lawrence Welk
Hands for giving my brother
A shot when he was young
And hands for playing hopscotch
To mark the spot
And a bat and glove
To play ball with my brothets
Feet for taking us
On walks and to the library
And pulling a wagon with
Homemade dinners for
the sick in the parish
feet for walking down
Hospital halls and running
With us or chasing bubbles
Kneeling at Church
Or scrubbing the floor
Standing at the stove
Making pancakes or dinner
A kiss goodnight
And off to bed we would go
Her footsteps following
For night prayer and a story
Turn off the light and wait for morning to come
Good night John boy ms. Clarevell
Good night moon
Good night Mom
See you in the morning

— The End —