Tuesday Roller-coaster

another from primary school

early to rise on Tuesdays

a day of roller-coaster emotions

from the pleasure of Bunty

a must read delivered

through our brass letter box

to clatter to a halt on

polished parquet flooring

a whole hour of turned pages

to devour over cornflakes

print smudges on finger tips

lost in story lines garnished

with creative illustrations

until the dreaded school bus

arrived, took a ride to

Churchill's pool, fools

madness to swim in april

outside in a cold climate

where we immersed

ourselves in what seemed

like iced chlorine with a threat

if we weren't in speedily

we might find ourselves

given a helping hand

a plunge into terror

stiff limbs shivering from shock

teeth chattering noisily

is all i can recall

how any of us learned to swim

remains a complete mystery

Reviews

[barleygirl]

The best thing about your reminisces is that, even for someone who's never been there, you bring a scene so alive, it doesn't matter. For me, it was belonging to a record club & having those vinyl albums coming every month, exploring the new tunes! It's pretty amazing what cold water I was willing to go into in my youth. Around here, the ocean is ice-cold year-round & so are the streams. Love how this brings back such great memories & also your lively punch in putting the reader right SMACK into that cold water! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Chris Shaw]

Not a fan of cold water Margie. How can you tolerate ice cold? Pleased you enjoyed this read and how it brought back some of your own memories. You know I can still smell, the pungent smell of those changing rooms and the disinfectant foot bath we had to wade through :) Never have got those out of my mind.

Chris

[Chris Shaw]

:)................

[Just Kim]

a whole hour of turned pages
to devour over cornflakes

I so love the imagery in these lines here, This is so very well written.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Kym, I appreciate your comments and your visit.

Chris

[Abhilash Hegde]

It's always heartwarming to run through childhood memories. It brings a smile on our face instantly.
I remember my childhood days very well, it's fun to go back and re-live it even if it is through words and memorable tid-bits. I do account my swim lessons - my mom used to take me to swim classes, probably when I was very young like 3-4 yrs old, I was put into water. My coach was a real hard task master but he was sweet, he would get me a nice delicious snack at the end of my swim class and he rode me out to the snack joint and treated me everyday. Reading comics, running to the school bus, eating in a haste - all your memories are so sweet and brings back my memories alive too.
This one reminded me of a write on my childhood memories - "The little ice candy"

Thanks for sharing this sweet piece of write :) :)

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Abhilash and for sharing your own memories. I will see if I can visit your own childhood poem. All the best.

Chris

[Cyprian Van Dyke]

I like the title it drew me in to read this poem. Nicely written poetry about your type of roller coaster. Glad I read it. tyfs

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Cyprian. Pleased you enjoyed the read. I appreciate your visit.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

Ah, the things we will do when we are young! I recall playing outside in the midst of east coast heat and humidity and never thinking twice about it. Now you can't get me out of the A/C after 9 AM. I guess kids are kids, wherever they are. By the way, who was Bunty?

[Chris Shaw]

Thankyou John. Bunty was a young girl's comic. Back in the day they were really popular. There was one called Judy as well. You either bought one or the other, never both. Our teachers were something else back then as well. Quite a few had a sadistic streak in them. Pushing you in the pool, chucking the blackboard duster at you. Many thanks for your visit.

Chris

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this brings back a memory for me...apparently when I was really little, I had loved the water, but then
I fell into a really cold pool at my dad's aunt's house and it made me so scared of water I wouldn't go near it.

When I learned to swim, my dad had to carry me out into the lake, kicking and screaming, to teach me.
But from that day on...I was like a fish...
funny how poems spark memories...yours always do...which means your readers find some level on which to relate...that is the sign of an excellent poet.
j.

[Chris Shaw]

Thank you Jacob for sharing that memory. I also find that some poets send me on nostalgia trips. Really appreciate your kind comments.

Chris

[Laura M.Emerson]

Hello, Chris! It's been quite awhile, hasn't it? I spent a good bit of time in the hospital and rehab recently, but I finally got back home in mid-August. Meanwhile, I see you're still writing away!

For me, learning to swim was far from easy. My stomach tends to be the first place to react when I'm nervous, and I often felt nauseous, leaving me to hang onto the pool wall for dear life while my classmates frolicked in the water nearby.

It was weeks before the swim instructor and my father convinced me to let the wall loose, but I was terrified to put my head underwater, or to float alone.

Our pool was indoors, and the staff there often had trouble regulating the water temperature, so we either turned blue or red, depending on the day. Indoors, or out - I don't guess it matters - I can definitely relate!

As usual, great work!

[Chris Shaw]

Dear Laura, sorry to learn that you have had a spell in hospital and rehab recently. I do hope you are feeling better and thank you for checking in. Delighted to hear from you. Thank you for sharing your own experiences about swimming. Oh yes, I relate. Take good care of yourself. Hope to see more of you.

Chris

[Laura M.Emerson]

I had a nasty bout of Covid, but I'm clear now. Back to the salt mines~

[Dave Brown]

This is especially humorous because we went through the same thing teaching our very reluctant kids how to swim
Many many Moons ago now but a fun memory

[Chris Shaw]

Dave, I sincerely hope you didn't shove your kids into freezing cold water :) So cold was I after swimming, I could barely get myself dry. Those were the dats. Have to say although painful at the time, I am a strong swimmer now. Thanks for checking in.

Chris