Memories of Times Past

13 Comments

Poem Commentary

I grew up in Planeview, Kansas, a housing project outside Wichita that was built to house the 30,000 workers employed at Boeing aircraft building B-29s during the second world war. The grade and high schools that I attended have all been torn down and the once busy town has turned into a terrible slum. I wrote this poem for those like myself that can't go back and must instead look back through 60-70 year old memories.

Memories of Times Past

 

My dear friend’s it is a sad day I fear

Enough to bring forth a sigh and a tear

Some seven decades have now come and gone

And time has not been kind to our previous home

 

The streets are in a state of major disarray

The houses collapsing from mold and decay

The street lights stand dim, leaning and broken

The language of our times is no longer spoken

 

The rooms of old PHS have crumbled to dust

Only memories remain and in those we must trust

The laughter that once filled the long busy halls

Can no longer be heard behind now invisible walls

 

Cars with waving friends once roamed the wide streets

Now ghosts of times past are all that one meets

Crumbling sidewalks leading to nowhere run hither and yon

Homes where we lived in our youth now vacant or gone

 

One of the pleasures of old age… if one can be found

Is to return to your roots with its familiar sights and sounds

But alas this for us is not meant to be

For our proud home has vanished midst a pile of debris

 

But maybe to return in one’s mind is not all that bad

  To remember the fun and good times we once had

Young faces full of life, all proud gremlins to be sure

In a simpler time which the years can never obscure

 

So sit down in your rockers sons and daughters of PHS

Lean back, close your eyes and prepare to regress

It’s a sunny summer day in the grand town of Planeview

And precious memories are waiting for all to renew

 

©Copyright April 2010 Charlie Gragg 

Poem Comments

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stefy commented on Memories of Times Past

04-18-2010

True and really sad.All of us have similar feelings about our places from the childhood and youth, but i really enjoy reading your wonderful poem.

Hampton

04/18/2010

Thank you. Your kind words are appreciated.

gogant commented on Memories of Times Past

04-18-2010

I was born in a quaint little township named Renovo, in Pennsylvania...lived there till I was five...I've gone back there many times in memory to taste the goodness of the place...........a lovely piece by you, Hamp...........................g

Hampton

04/18/2010

Thank you. In some instances going back is a necessary step in continuing to move forward.

Springsize commented on Memories of Times Past

04-18-2010

Your poem is mechanically perfect, and the message is heartfelt.... as each of us looks to our own history, not much stands long, except for those pyramids. The changes come and it is the poets and other artists, writers, color-movers who Keep our History for us.... as you do... Have you taken this gem to your reunions? And can you imagine Long, long years from now... having your poem sitting next to a picture of your Planeview High School in a museum...

Hampton

04/18/2010

I appreciate your insightful comments. Thank you.

Hiporlacking commented on Memories of Times Past

04-16-2010

I've been absent for a few months This is one of the few poems I've read since my return. I'm very glad it was. It's well written and shows an honest perspective of growing old...and examining all of the little things that have made up ones life. Nice write Hampton.

Hampton

04/16/2010

Welcome back and thank you.

ginga commented on Memories of Times Past

04-15-2010

Hampton, I like the frank attitude in this poem of the fall of a home obviously fancied. This memorializes the grand homestead and even the reader winds up wishing he/she had been there back in the day. ginga

Hampton

04/15/2010

Thank you dear.

A poem begins as a lump in the throat, a sense of wrong, a homesickness, a lovesickness. It finds the thought and the thought finds the words.

Robert Frost (1875-1963) American Poet.

Hampton’s Poems (111)

Title Comments
Title Comments
Searching 5
The Poetess 14
Nonsense 12
Solitude 18
Lame Limericks 14
Message to Papa 15
Young Jimmy O’Fallon 11
The Computer From Hell 18
Life Ain’t for Sissies 16
The Mind In Motion 13
The Game of Poetry 9
Silence 55
WordSlinger 19
Holiday Thoughts 12
Sweet Mary 18
From White to Grey to Black 19
The Reckoning 12
And All of That Jazz 16
Today 25
No Offense, Just My Opinion 16
Lucky 10
You’re Only as Old as You Feel 13
Saturday Night 13
Political Change? 14
The Female Gender 17
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? ( With Epilogue) 10
I’m In Charge Here, Aren’t I? 7
Remembering 11
This Web We Weave 13
The End 16
The Day the Clouds Cried 16
The Path of Life 12
My Mother Ruth 12
Forever–ast
er
11
Humanities Challenge 14
A Cowboy's Perspective 12
July in Buda Texas 14
The OP Poets Parade 20
The Chatelaine 12
Shot Through the Heart 17
Poetry and Fine Wine 18
The Man What Am 10
The Final Beat of My Heart 16
The Rainbow of Poets 19
A Cowboy's Lament 13
Of This World I am Not 17
The Wee People 19
An Evening at an Irish Pub 15
The Scent of Love 14
Fresh News from Buda Texas 16
Memories of Times Past 13
The Dance of the Poets 20
The Confession 14
Road to Obscurity 18
Barbara 14
Shadows 15
Prescience 17
Words That Bind 54
Wondering 26
New Year News from Buda Texas 13
We Are All Witnesses 16
Christmas 25
A Cowboy’s Prayer 29
The 9 ers 24
Love Defined 27
Tis a Time to Give Thanks 21
More News From Buda Texas 26
Choices 26
News from Buda, Texas 21
In Search of God 21
Writers of Poems (WOPs) 26
Out of the Darkness 15
Visions from Within the Mist 18
Baseball 12
The Night Stalker 16
The Man I Presume to be Buck 16
The Sounds of Time 17
The Little Man in the Green Hat 18
Blah Blah Blah 14
One Two Three 13
Carpe Viam 11
Love in the Afternoon 13
The Moth 14
Lost & Dungeons of the Mind 11
The Creative Process 19
The Truth and the Tribe 19
The Long Wait. 19
Feathers 26
The Arrow 14
Take Two Cialis and Call Me in the Morning 26
Ghostly Images 16
Friends 11
Angels Without Wings 20
IN MY OWN WORDS 13
The Rider 16
Pride and Shame 18
The Winning Poet is.... 21
Memories 13
Politicians 67
Your Mailbox Is Empty 18
God's Visit 17
Poets and Poems 20
Love Thy Neighbor 13
Renewal 8
The Roar of Silence 17
Blessed Are These Days 4
Time and Space 5
Life's Journey 8
Gift To The Fallen 16
Hunger 21
The Antique Shop 30