Due to the war we had very few toys.
Knitted dolls for girls, not much for boys.
In those days we made all our own fun;
A game of cricket, sort of! Tip in and run.
On the grass verge between the trees
We play marbles, crouched on our knees.
Fine stones; another game we all played
With pebbles or "stones" someone made.
Hopscotch more a girlie's game;
Sometimes the boys would play it just the same.
A heavy rope to a tree we would tether
For skipping; singing on entering "all together!"
Often two ropes swinging in different ways;
Us boys would opt out then - it always pays.
Somehow boys would tangle up their feet
And end up face down in the street.
Cotton reels, two dead matches, elastic band;
All these things came ready to hand.
A "tank" they made when put into place
With which us boys would have a race.
Simon Says and Mister Wolf were good.
Street games played where we stood.
Bigger boys made a catapult
"To fight Germans" - full of salt.
Not all our time was spent in play.
Chores had to be done most every day.
Picking peas, all succulent and sweet;
Quite a few we'd promptly eat.
Elder and acorn made a pop-gun.
Most boys had at least that one.
This fun interrupted by going to school.
Told education was a necessary tool.
Oh! Yes, I nearly forgot, before I stop.
We'd often play with a whipping top.
Girls got cotton reels with four nails,
Knitted with wool; long coloured tails.
Chestnuts we would sell and eat.
Conkers too, laying there at our feet.
Pierce the, place them on strings;
Crack each others, the one left wins.
Games of Battleships, on paper those days.
Today, unless electronic, no plays.
Today blood-thirsty games youngsters on computers;
No wonder our police don't carry shooters!
No comments:
Post a Comment