My Childhood Play
As a young child of about age six,
I with others did mingle and mix
As I played with things such as corn-cobs and sticks.
I often rode a fast stick-horse
Made of a broom or a rag mop of course.
To get him to go required little force.
After riding the stick-horse an hour or two
Barefoot and without a shoe,
I would be so tired. Whew!
I felt I had run all day!
It seemed my stick-horse would laugh and neigh
That I felt this way.
I'd line up my dolls all in a row;
And try to teach them the ABC's, though
Their lessons they never seemed to know.
I had stilts made from a young tree
Of which I walked by placing each foot in a vee.
I walked, ran, and then came a skinned knee!
I jumped rope to "Cinderella
Dressed in yellow"
And continued the jingle naming my fellow.
I had a yard swing--
It was not a fancy thing;
But a rope tied to a tire's ring.
I made mud pies
That were pleasing to the eyes--
Guess they could have won first prize.
The mud pies that I made were dark gray.
I fed them to my younger niece, Martha Mae,
Who would eat a few bites and dance a ballet.
I did cut paper dolls from a catalog
No matter the weather--clear or fog.
Then, I'd go play leap frog.
I often rode the work-horse named "Dan".
Sometimes he'd trot and other times he'd stand.
Finally, I'd turn him out to pasture again.
When playing jacks, it was a knack
To pick up a single when I threw a piggy-back.
If successful, I'd yell like a maniac.
Another game--the name I can't recall
Consisted of a paddle, rubber band, and ball
Which I often played when there was a rainfall.
With the paddle, the ball I'd hit
Over-and-over likety-split
Until I finally got tired and quit.
I often climbed the huge cherry tree
And played "Skin the Cat". You see,
My toys' cost was free!
From wood chips, I built a farm or a fort
With a fence of string of some sort.
Then, Mama would call me, and I'd have to report.
These are the activities of play
That I did in my growing-up day--
Be it the month of August or May.
I have given you a glimpse of life
Long before I became a wife;
For you to view my early childhood life.
Author: Edith Bastin
© Copyright: November 12, 1998. All Rights Reserved.
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