REWINDING CHILDHOOD MEMORY

REWINDING CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

Happy memories
Of childhood
Of six decades
Rewinded
Memories
Came flooding
To the surface

Rememberin'
To be innocent
And
Content
Once again

Nice to recount
Childhood account

Church service ended
Breakfast eaten
Mum and dad seated
On the opposite side

All children assembled
In a single file
Marched
Stretched
At ease dad
Would command

Final act
We all
Stand to attention
Dad would begin
Listen
Is judgement
Day
Today
As always
Held
Every Sunday

Don't worry
You all have
Right of reply
He would say

You will account
For your deeds
The past weeks

Mini court
Is in session
Dad, a judge
Without a wig
Would begin

I'll start
With you
As the eldest
(referring to me)

Have you been obedient?
Mum would say
He was obedient

Next in line
What do you have
To say
In your defence?

Was also obedient
Was the meek reply
Mum would say
You are
Less than candid
You weren't obedient
Here comes
Judgement in the
Form of advice

On a certain day
You were seen
In a place you
Weren't meant
To be in

Listen up
You are not yet
High up
You need to adopt
Honesty and
Work hard

Dad quotes from
Abraham Lincoln's
Biography
"Born in a log cabin
he ascended to the
White House"
Emulate his deeds

Such ideas came
From
Self-taught dad
Still
Fondly remembered
I Was
Only five years old
When it happened

Accountability
Established
Judgement
Or
Advice rendered
Had to wait
For another Sunday
A day
I clearly remember
As if it was
Yesterday