Childhood Memories of an Afternoon Nap

Posted on 2022/07/11 by Bartholomew Barker

Childhood Memories of an Afternoon Nap

Sneaking out the bedroom window
jumping off the porch roof
running to the park past
the fragrant rose bushes

Climbing the cherry tree
back to the turtle sandbox
with our crimson treats

Then to the big swings
where we pump our bare legs
pushing toes to the sky
three— two— one—
then free as a firefly
in the summer dusk floating
even as our stomach drops

This poem was composed with help from my friends at Charles House. We read summer-themed poetry today and then melded various childhood memories into the poem above.

About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is one of the organizers of Living Poetry, a collection of poets and poetry lovers in the Triangle region of North Carolina. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he makes money as a computer programmer to fund his poetry habit.
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13 Responses to Childhood Memories of an Afternoon Nap

  1. pensivepoetblog says:
    2022/07/11 at 22:48

    Nice one, Bart. Can almost smell the roses and feel that jump.

    Well done,

    Mary

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. JeanMarie says:
    2022/07/11 at 22:56

    Sweet and nostalgic. Like popsicle s from the ice cream truck. 🍦

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Gypsie-Ami Offenbacher-Ferris says:
    2022/07/11 at 23:39

    Loved swinging barefoot on those old saddle back chain-link swings when I was young(er). I could feel that wonderfully horrible feeling of leaving my stomach at the upswing and then going back for more as I read your piece. Thank you for the nice remembrance Bartholomew! 😊

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. berniebell1955 says:
    2022/07/12 at 02:57

    “even as our stomach drops”

    That’s just it – on the back-swing – wheeeeeeee!

    The Swing

    How do you like to go up in a swing,
    Up in the air so blue?
    Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
    Ever a child can do!

    Up in the air and over the wall,
    Till I can see so wide,
    Rivers and trees and cattle and all
    Over the countryside—

    Till I look down on the garden green,
    Down on the roof so brown—
    Up in the air I go flying again,
    Up in the air and down!

    From A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Cassa Bassa says:
    2022/07/12 at 14:58

    Beautiful and joy filled memories.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Susi Bocks says:
    2022/07/20 at 23:20

    I remember hours and hours spent like that! Loved it, Bart!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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