Friends

28 September 2011

The Hard Slog


Dad! I want to leave home

I’m hard done by here and feel the urge to roam

Hard done by you say! Is that what you think?

My Boy! I would say that your life’s in the pink

So what if your Mum and Dad once in a while

Descend heavy handed to cramp your lifestyle

You have a nice home where we live in the park

There’s absence of traffic; you’re safe in the dark

All right! So our house is bereft of a telly

But never of good grub to fill up your belly

You have a soft bed to sleep in at night

Six brothers and sisters to cuddle you tight

So when it gets cold as the winter takes grip

You’ll value these things when you take your long kip

Now I, On the other hand, have good cause to grouse

Raised on the streets of New York in a house

Where bumper to bumper the traffic ran riot

I swear there was never a time it was quiet

Just crossing the road was a dangerous act

Something my parents found out on impact

I stood on the sidewalk and cried my heart out

Very cold, terrified and too scared to shout

In that instant of time I could tell fate had dealt

All her aces which showed me how loneliness felt

I stayed there for hours not wanting to leave

Unknowing if this was my last chance to grieve

But as the night came; flashing lights lit the place

A gusting cold breeze blew a tear from my face

I perceived it was time to move from Times Square

And headed for Broadway to seek solace there

It was while trudging north that I made them my vow

Swore no matter how long or how hard; I’d somehow

Find a safe place to go where a home I could make

That had green open spaces, tall trees and a lake

All through that winter I walked on Broadway

I travelled by night and holed up through the day

It seemed like a lifetime I’d followed this course

Never sleeping a wink; heart full of remorse

Till the day came along when Nirvana was spied

The place I had pledged them to find when they died

With my long search complete; I could start a new life

Settle down, build a home, then find me a wife

With my bare hands I fashioned this mini mock Tudor

So we could live safely, free from intruder

So son! I would say you have no cause to grumble

For having strict parents in a house which is humble

Oh Father I promise I’ll not leave the nest

Your tale has convinced me that home is the best

To move from this place that you sought in such pain

Will never come up as a subject again

For my mind is made up that its here I must stay

A city that never sleeps is no place

For a hedgehog to stray

Sleep tight Dad see you in the spring

~~~~~

(Please note: I cannot take the credit for this poem, it was written by a friend. However, the picture is one I took outside Central Park)

15 comments:

  1. Enjoyed that - your friend is very talented Val. And Central Park in your photo looks like a busy, bustling place (wish I was there). Ah well, I can dream!

    ReplyDelete
  2. you friend did well...and nice pic...always wanted to take a horse and buggy through the park...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful picture sweetie and a most beautifully written prose.

    I so enjoyed the read.

    God bless ya and have a terrific Thursday!!!! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  4. BRAVA to your friend, Valerie!

    FANTASTIC poem!

    And of course, FANTASTIC photo!

    Reminded me of my first horse and buggy ride through Central Park. It was back in the late 70's and it cost $30.00 a half hour. Back than, that was SO expensive. Oh, but so worth it!

    Thanks for sharing, dear lady. REALLY enjoyed this post! Have a lovely day!

    X

    ReplyDelete
  5. Blogaire, it is a bustly place and, like you, I wish I was there.

    Brian, we didn't take the buggy, more's the pity.

    Nezzy, thanks for visiting. Glad you liked the poem.

    Peg, I quite liked it too. It was worth posting.

    Ron, that was expensive. I wonder what it costs now.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful. One had to keep on reading it to follow the narative. We went to Central Park in June and I would have been happy to live there.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great poem and I love the pic. :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks, Akelamalu, I thought it was time someone read my friend's poem.

    Pearl, Hi and welcome.

    Ooooh Alan, me too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I feel real sorrow and concern for hedgehogs.

    ReplyDelete
  10. SMART hedgehog!

    I so wish we had 'em.

    Very cute poem with that awesome photo. Well done!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. "So what if your Mum and Dad once in a while
    Descend heavy handed to cramp your lifestyle"

    The older I get the less I get concerned about them cramping my style. After all, I only have one set of parents! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a delightful poem Valerie! I enjoyed it very much :) Your friend has a wonderful sense of rhythm.

    ReplyDelete

If you're new to A Mixed Bag you might find something to interest you, a bit of mirth, a story or two, or some pictures. I'm so pleased you popped in, do leave a comment if you have time.