Roaming free
Storyteller challenge: happy home memories
Climbing through the window, into the garden
We three, taking turns, jumping off a wall
And a part were you could get lost
In the tall grass and buzzing flowers
It felt so endlessly big, but it wasn’t
And a young man on his balcony had a guitar, sang
Puff the magic dragon.
In those days, children roamed free, feral
Out in the morning from under Mum’s feet
Back when she called, dinner’s ready
Everything in between, all ours.
Don’t go to Hawkhill,
stay away from the bombed-out houses.
So that’s where we went, thrilled
Wandering through destroyed empty rooms
Feeling brave.
Standing on a chair to reach the kitchen top
Filling tarts with dollops of jam, not too much, mind
Or they will overflow and sticky mess the oven.
And at the end of the day
All three in the bath
Me in the middle, the smallest
splashing annoyingly.
Challenge from
: Tell a story about a happy memory from a home in your family from your childhood or your family history.Genealogy Matters Storyteller Tuesday Challenge: HAPPY HOME, due by June 10, 2025.
I relate to this so much! All the neighborhood kids roamed free in my day too. It's so different now. I believe that connection to nature & freedom helped build the resilience that I talk a lot about in my writing. Your piece here would be mine as well for a "Happy Home Memory."
Oh, yes, I remember those days. Out early and off to play with the neighbors. When it was time for lunch or dinner, I'd hear her yell. Then out I'd go again until dark. If the weather was good, I was outside. You brought up so many great memories. Thanks!