When thoughts of childhood come to mind,
fond memories are what I find.

Hot summer days growing up in the city,
in neighborhoods that weren't so pretty.
But I had a family that cared, you see.
Mom, dad, brother, sister, always there for me.
That's the most important of all,
having people who love you and won't let you fall.
I remember all of the games we would play,
Red Light-Green Light, down the alleyway.
Freeze-Tag, Stick Ball, Jump Rope and such,
barefoot on the pavement as we jumped Double Dutch.
We'd listen for the ice cream truck
that came around and with some luck,
we'd find some change and get a treat.
Snow cones were always my favorite sweet.
But when the pavement got too hot,
the back of our building was the best spot.
An older boy would open the "pump".
Through rushing water, us kids would stump.
Opening fire hydrants wasn't child's play,
but the Chicago F.D. looked the other way.
So an afternoon of coolness was assured,
for blocks our whoops of laughter were heard.
It's true our clothes were seldom new,
and luxuries for us were few.
Though money was tight, we never felt sad,
just happy for all the good things we had.
The times in childhood that I loved best,
was sitting next to my mom at rest.
Listening to her records play,
piano music throughout the day.
With crackers and butter, hot cups of tea,
we sat and listened, my mom and me.
My father too was wise and kind,
a finer man you'd never find.
So a childhood filled with love was mine,
with some rough times, some better times.
But just as long as our family stayed together,
there wasn't anything we couldn't weather.

When thoughts of childhood come to mind,
fond memories are what I find.