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'This poem was submitted to the People's War site by Rick Allden of the CSV ´óÏó´«Ã½ Coventry and Warwickshire Action Desk on behalf of Elsie Mae Griffiths and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions'.

Childhood Memories

What did you expect? — I questioned myself
Much later in private thought
For we had agreed that we should meet
To hug and to say ‘Hello’
In a celebration of childhood days
In the war years, five decades ago

I wanted to talk of our memories when young
But they didn’t see it like that
Yet I needed to speak of the earlier times
To indulge in our long stored past
Quite rightly then, they just chose to talk
On the present, and their families’ growth
To have albums admired, with weddings and kids
The joys and anguished, their pride
Though what I wanted to hear them say
Was still sealed away in my heart

Did they ever remember the run through the park?
Late for school, and all out of breath
The ‘Parkie’ saying, ‘you’ll catch it, you know!’
As we raced over new mown grass
Oh, those cold, cold houses and icy beds
The old hand-me-downs from our friends
Early air raids that scared our parents stiff
Whilst we just lived for the thrill
When each new day had a tale to tell
And everyone lived on the edge

There were uniformed uncles who came to stay
So boisterous and devil-may-care
We were boozily bounced up and down on their knees
And regaled with adventures of war
How they drank, and flirted with local girls
Always yearning for extra leave
Said they’d seen enough, had more than their fill
Already their youth had fled

So once more to the present, where I now stand
My youth, too, finally gone
Yet still existing in memories of film
At times allowed out to be aired
It is then I relive the fading past
Taking pleasure on a journey of thoughts
Stealing back once again to childhood’s days
To a sanctuary of love and blind hope

This poem was donated to the People’s War website by Elsie Mae Griffiths, of the Leam Writers. If you would like to find out more about Leam Writers call 0845 900 5 300.

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