MY early 1950's

My seven year old attitude 
loved the red plaid jumpers
with nice pockets for holding
a nickel, pennies, 
Necco wafers and a Tootsie roll or two
a freshly starched and ironed by me
white sleeveless shirt
and just as bright white oxfords 
for my dancing, running, climbing
skating and always so busy little feet.

Looking back on the 1950's 
I remember putting 
on dramatic plays 
in my own front yard 
a rickety porch for a stage
little brothers and sisters for 
an acting crew
a wide imagination
and stories from the Bible to reenact
for an hour or two
or better yet
a banana tree to turn into a jungle
for Tarzan and his girlfriend Jane 
and the meanest little brother 
becoming the scary gorilla
who climbed out from the broken 
TV screen 
twisting his face so much
as he chased us
and making everyone scream

Looking back on my 1950s
I remember hours and hours 
in the Southern California sunshine
running away from a real predator 
by climbing up the apricot tree
or hiding beneath the house's pier and beam 
being a little teacher for brothers and little sis
showing them how to skate 
or how to balance the handles for a ride 
on our one little bike

Cardboard boxes were make believe
homes and old blankets were for 
the downtown city or camping out tents
water and dirt made a fine masa
for pretend tortillas
mixed in with shredded grass for 
rice and red geranium leaves 
for the chili pepper sauce

Looking back on my 1950s
I miss dandelions on the unmown grass
big sisters taking us for a picnic
under the front yard trees
the best tuna sandwiches ever
and icy Kool Aid to drink that was the color green
the music of Pedro Infante played 
from big albums for the working adults
and Ray Charles or Elvis Presley
for the growing up girls in their teens

Looking back on my 1950's
I hear the voices of my big family
the people who were then my only friends
I find too short a time of being a carefree 
tomboy 
movie director teacher
playmate and sister
remembered by them as 
being loud and bossy
just a kid under 10
and the very best of me. 

Oak Park, Illinois
October 24, 2002.