Our free range playgrounds of childhood have died.
We no longer live connected, but rather side by side
We know each other by first name only
Some live isolated and feel quite lonely
Gone are the days of front porch swings
Where friends may gather as evening begins
And lovers sit swinging hand in hand
It was wonderful // Life was grand
Our doors never locked and curtains seldom pulled
Kids ran free and no threat while at school
Played in the woods // climbed trees without nets
Disappeared all day and played with their pets
And if we ever needed help from a friend
We knew who to call // that neighbor round the bend
Seems the new normal arrived long before Covid
As life had already changed // no matter what we did
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
This poem came to me after reading Reena Sexons poem:
https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2020/08/05/target-markets/#comment-101335
This is beautiful. I had the pleasure of being raised by older parents and although the world around us may have changed, my upbringing is just as you described. I tried to give my daughter the same against the grain. I wish more people still cared about not only making things “easy”, but enjoying that which is simple.
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Wonderful that you could experience that and your children as well. I appreciate your great sharing.
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Yes, life had already changed. Let’s allow it to continue to evolve and hopefully improve as people realize what they’re missing.
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Thank you Jan. Our life has been changing for the past twenty years!
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Dwight, those were the days! These are challenging times. Maybe better days are ahead. Take care. Cheryl
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Yes, we hope so! These long days of isolation are getting rather old! Thank you!
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I do everything I can to preserve those experiences and show my grandies how to play with what is around them
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That is wonderful Beth! I know you are a great teacher!!
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thank you –
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A very insightful poem! How I miss those days.
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Me too! Sometimes I am sad for my grandchildren that they don’t get to experience that!
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I know just what you mean. I felt sad that my daughter didn’t get to experience it either.
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I so agree
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Thank you, Wanda!
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So true! Life is changing. I feel like it was just yesterday, I was a kid. Playing with bunch of friends, have no worries and the only thing to think of is school stuffs.
Wonderful poem, Dwight!
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Thank you! I understand prefectly!
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What a strange new reality, but I believe in getting creative and change doesn’t always have to be a bad thing.
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Yes, I am looking forward to better times, hopefully in the near future! Thank you!
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Then again, what choice do we have but to embrace it!!
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The struggle becomes easier if we can learn to do so.
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You have described this so beautifully. I grew up in a small place, in a colony where neighbours would freely walk into others places to say hi, drop in for a tea and chat. I don’t see all that around me nowadays any more, and even I have drawn that much more into a self made cocoon (part responsible is my ever increasing work schedule also). You are so correct, the new sad normal came much before Covid.
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Thank you for your great comment! It really is an ongoing thing. When we were young time stood still and we thought it would be that way forever! What a shock to move into the real world!!
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Dwight, I love your poem. It makes an whole era of kindness and trust come
to life. It is just as simple as that – and such fun. How sad that so much has been replaced by fear and technology.
Miriam
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Thank you so much! We really do live in a new normal that is constantly changing. Faster now with the advent of extreme technology.
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A sound, nostalgic reminder
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One I think about often!
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I grew up like you shared in your poem…and I raised my children that way, too. But from our generation to our grandkids generation life has certainly changed…especially since March 2020.
Your poem is wonderful, Dwight! Brings back precious memories to my mind and heart!
Life changes and we adapt and change and we not just survive, but can thrive. 🙂
As an extroverted extrovert who always lived a busy life, these days are a bummer. But I find good things to do each day, I find the joys. 🙂 And YAY for Skype, and Zoom, and FaceTime, etc.! 🙂
(((HUGS))) 🙂
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Thank you so much for your interesting comment. I find change difficult the older I get! I guess that I am not the only one who feels this way! Yes, i am getting ready to move beyond the cocoon!
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No you are not alone. 🙂
What’s that saying, “The only person who loves change is a wet baby.” Ha! 😀
Each day I go over My Gratitude List in my mind. I have so many people and things to be thankful for! That helps me when the tough things rear their ugly heads again. 🙂
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Good for you!! Love the baby quote!!
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I love this poem. It reminds me of my childhood summers spending time riding my bike along with the other neighborhood kids, playing tag, going to the 7-Eleven to pick up a freeze pop for 30 cents with no adults around. We didn’t need A/C or cable TV, just our imagination!
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Yes, looking back it seems like another world back then!
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Thank you for sharing your nostalgic comments!
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Thanks for your post! I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels nostalgic for simpler times:)
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Even more so these days!
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