Did I Tell You ?

Did I tell you of mangles and washdays

whistling kettles warm summer rain

coal chap and hand me down cloths

Of cobblers wooden clogs breaking my nose

Did I tell you of dolly tubs and gas lamps

Of dance halls and a pinch of snuff

Of trips to Blackpool ballroom dancing

Then back home late on cherabang bus

Did I tell you of rag and bone man

Of fur coats and knocker ups

Of my brother who spoke eleven languages

Who died shovelling coal dust

Did I tell you of stone hot water bottles

Of snow that fell for over a month

Braces and life below stairs

In service and Sunday roast

Did I tell you when the police man chased me

For riding without any brakes

Tin baths and stone floors that I scrubbed

Marbles hopscotch and such games

Did I tell you of long summer evenings

Of tea and jam and real lemonade

Moth balls and greengrocers

Shillings and pence horses and steam trains

Did I tell you I got an orange for Christmas

Of the walk to our outside loo

Metronome to teach me to speak right

And the first lion I saw at the zoo

Have I told you these things once too often

Am I starting to get on your nerves

It’s just that I love you being here

Reminiscing in my comfy old chair