Lemon Summers

childhood memories in a river town

"Lemon Summers"


Some of our summer pastimes; take a look.
Shade trees and a Nancy Drew book,
chilled Mason jars of sweet ice tea
while watching episodes of "I Love Lucy".
Paid a nickle for a special treat every day;
sucking sour lemons and dill pickles while we play.

Lovely sounds of a steamboat calliope
traveling up and down Mighty Mississippi.
Along with river songs we often heard,
children told to heed a cautionary word.
"Stay away from those railroad tracks!"
Nighttime whistling came from hobo shacks.

Hopscotch, sidewalk skates, and a blanket tent.
Mystery games played with coded messages sent.
Hula hoops, flashlight tag, baseball in an empty lot.
Street dancing, plays performed with a corny plot.
Tree climbing and stealing apples to make a pie.
When asked by the mamas, of course we'd lie.
Created circuses with a horse and tumbling acts.
Formed an adventure club with secret pacts.
Neighborhood parades, races with young runners.
Those are the memories of "lemon-summers".





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