When I Was a Boy

When I was a boy

With no computer for a toy

 

I made up games to play

Like a pack of cards

Predicting football results

Of teams whose names I made up

The Jack Queen and King

Counted as nil

Eight Nine and Ten as two

And Five Six and Seven as one

Ace to Four counted for what they were

This made the scores more respectable

I would organise the fixtures

And create league tables

But the most exciting part

Was re-enacting the games

Outside using an old ladder

And two oil drums as defenders

 

When I was a boy

With no Xbox for a toy

 

I used to balance on an oil drum

And pretend I was circus performer

My record was twice round the field

Without falling off

I was pleased my mother witnessed this

From the front door on a sunny day

When I got bored of my trickery

I turned the oil drum upside down

And banged it with two sticks

Now I was a pop star

Badly out of tune

But the girls all loved me anyway

Even at my young age

I would sing to an audience of none

I thought my voice scared the birds

This often made me laugh

 

When I was a boy

With no smart phone for a toy

 

I’d be outside after school

Playing with friends

Talking with our mouths

Summer was our big screen

We all played a part

We would interact without email

And like without a thumb sign

Gossip was not important

Our faces could be books

For others to read at will

We would walk through the woods

Play hide and seek

No need to upload pictures

We used our memory for that

Our world wasn’t virtual

But today it doesn’t seem real

 

©JMcN 2014