Those Were the Days...

By Silver Spun Sand

Sat, 28 May 2011

3889 reads

18 comments

There were squeaky
wooden-gates
between backyards –
alleyways
where dogs dozed,
and prams
were parked...
prettily

old union jacks
covered
clapped out
iron-framed mangles
and gossip hung
in the air
like the smell
before rain...

clothes-lines
held up
with wooden props;
dusters and nappies
hand-me-down dresses
headscarves
and pinnies –
Sunday-best linen
vied for space.

Crept through
net-curtained
kitchen windows
the odour
of greens
and roasts
and simmering
damson jelly

till the clothes
were taken in
and the husbands
came home
between backyards
and alleyways
when those
were the days.

Certificate U

Poem

Silver Spun Sand Poems

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Comments

what a lovely old fashioned

Permalink Submitted by maisie on Sat, 2011-05-28 09:42

what a lovely old fashioned feel - the mangles, my granny had one, we used it to squeeze out the sheets, in the garden in the sunshine - before the line. it also makes me think of Ena Sharples - who was the complete opposite of Granny who never ever did the curlers...:)

maisie Guess what? I'm still alive!

Thanks so much for reading,

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sat, 2011-05-28 10:04

Thanks so much for reading, Maisie and for your lovely comment;-) Tina

Such an atmospheric poem

Permalink Submitted by Highhat on Sat, 2011-05-28 10:26

Such an atmospheric poem Tina- I really loved it. Made me a bit nostalgic about my childhood with alleys and backyards and gossiping matrons. Such a colourful poem. ;)Pia

Many thanks, Pia;-) My

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sat, 2011-05-28 10:42

Many thanks, Pia;-) My childhood was spent in the backstreets and the backyards of Tottenham, North London and like you, I could tell many a tale;-) Pleased you enjoyed. Tina

very vivid, and so many

Permalink Submitted by Rhiannonw on Sat, 2011-05-28 17:35

very vivid, and so many points brought together!

Many thanks, Rhiannonw.

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sat, 2011-05-28 18:27

Many thanks, Rhiannonw. Pleased you enjoyed. tina

Hello Tina, as everyone else

Permalink Submitted by skinner_jennifer on Sat, 2011-05-28 21:11

Hello Tina, as everyone else has said, this is pure nostalgia. Many memories come flooding back for me, while reading this beautiful piece. And as Mary Hopkins sang:- Those were the days my friend, I wish they'd never end! Thankyou for the great read. Jenny.

And how well I remember that

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sat, 2011-05-28 21:33

And how well I remember that song by Mary Hopkins...it was nineteen-sixty-eight, or thereabouts, the year my eldest daughter was born. Really pleased you enjoyed, Jenny and thanks for taking the time out to tell me;-) Tina

I enjoyed it very much also

Permalink Submitted by seashore on Sat, 2011-05-28 22:19

I enjoyed it very much also and now have Mary Hopkins on repeat in my ear........whatever happened to her I wonder?

Mary Hopkins...rumour has it

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sun, 2011-05-29 00:00

Mary Hopkins...rumour has it she now lives in a chateau in France which can only be reached by carrier pigeons, but who knows? Pleased you enjoyed, Coral and meny thanks for your lovely comment;-) Tina

new Silver=Spun-Sand H!.

Permalink Submitted by Cavalcader on Sat, 2011-05-28 23:37

new Silver=Spun-Sand H!. Really good images and description of the olden days,which you write so well,enjoyed very much. specially the mangle,smoke and pinnies. We had a mangle wringing and used apples to Squeeze through.For homemade wine. No washing machines.No light toilet outside.Night lights for bed. Do you remember the coalman heave the coal in the cellar.You certainly can join me in most of the poem. Second hand clothes. I have The Carnival is over on my mind. Was it The Seekers or The Carpenters. Neil Diamond on again last night. Have a good week-end. julie xx

Thanks, Julie. So many of

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sat, 2011-05-28 23:56

Thanks, Julie. So many of the things you mention I can identify with. Pleased it evoked so many memories for you;-) Tina xx

Lovely read - very evocative

Permalink Submitted by Overthetop1 on Sun, 2011-05-29 12:36

Lovely read - very evocative Tina.

Overthetop1

OTT - many thanks for

Permalink Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on Sun, 2011-05-29 13:07

OTT - many thanks for reading and letting me know you enjoyed;-) Tina

You paint a very appealing

Permalink Submitted by well-wisher on Mon, 2011-05-30 00:28

You paint a very appealing and colourful nostalgic picture full of wonderful images. It's a world that I never really knew, I'm sorry to say, coming from a middle-class background and not belonging to any kind of community although I do remember women in headscarves. Funny how headscarves are now mostly associated with muslim women when they used to be a common form of British head-gear back in the 50's/60's/70's Very much enjoyed your poem. It was very entertaining and a glimpse into a whole different world for me. Particularly liked: and gossip hung in the air like the smell before rain...

Oh look, a link. I wonder where it leads.

JoHn