Little Rascal

Little Rascal

A Poem by Michael G. Smith
"

My childhood living in the big city.

"

The city once had allure; sparkle

It was her prohibitions to a child

With wider than city-block eyes

And imaginations

 

I knew the cold steel tracks intimate

Pumping day to day industrious veins

Every inch, every mile upon mile

The trains raced by like rocket ships

I still feel their wind on my face

A boy hidden in crevices on bridges

Always daring and dangerous

 

And after the rains

The flooding runoff concrete rivers

I waded in to the sediment islands

Filled with washed away treasures

Where I used to play

Shopping carts half sunken; old tires and abandon clunkers

 

I would be gone for hours

Lost over steel mill fences

Into their amuses of fabrication jungles

Box cars and framed tractor trailers

Never could figure out

How I would escape the funnel trap

Of the liquid containers

 

Sometimes on weekends

I built forts among the fruit trees

In the undeveloped parts

Of the municipal city cemetery

With my two sisters

I had apples, Dawn wild grapes and

Julie the bramble estates

 

It was mid-seventies

In Milwaukee

There weren’t second thoughts

To a see nomad child roaming freely

 

But, all and I were home for five o’ clock

Sitting with our family

Eating dinner

(With never a thought to cell phones, internet or video games)

© 2013 Michael G. Smith


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Reviews

loved these memories, how fun it sounds and what adventures you had! Me and my sister used to sit in someone's old car parked in "the manse" and have a wonderful time imagining we were going here, there and everywhere, we'd take a picnic, I don't know if the owners ever knew how often we played in it :)

Posted 7 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

7 Years Ago

As children our littld worlds were our playground but now we are slaves to responsibility so we can .. read more
KT-B

7 Years Ago

I know responsibility sucks, right! hahaha it's like on xmas eve my nephew always comes up from Lond.. read more
Michael G. Smith

7 Years Ago

Exacty, haha
Childhood days were whole lot better. :)

Posted 10 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

10 Years Ago

It always seem so most times when we back. The trick is to hold on to that inner child as I have. As.. read more
You were lost into yer childhood when ya were transformin' yer inner essence into the frame of words. I liked the piece even i watched few the moments of your childhood though this piece. Very great work. Yer Artistry's cool and you wrote it from the depth of yer heart. It's a bit emotional piece too because childhood that never comes back again into the life always makes everyone emotional whenever we remind the moments of past. Well done. Beautifully penned.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

11 Years Ago

Thanks Neon.
I love this! I reminds me of a piece I wrote about childhood play. Nicely done with lots of good details!

Posted 11 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

11 Years Ago

Thanks, do you have that on posted?
Josie E. Cook M. A.

11 Years Ago

Not yet, I exactly have at least two --but not posted.
Everything seems to revolve around technology now. I have so much fun just enjoying the simple things in life. Walking and talking, while enjoying the scene of nature. It's an escape from a world where everything is hidden. It breathes a different air to the blank page. I love the imagery and "home" feel to this writing. I enjoyed this piece very much, thanks for sharing.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Tiffany Boles

11 Years Ago

Yea, well I actually grew up on technology..so I'm already a nerd I guess. But, just doing something.. read more
Michael G. Smith

11 Years Ago

I totally agree. I just bought a new lounge chair. I went out and just laid in it watching the squir.. read more
Tiffany Boles

11 Years Ago

I bet it was relaxing, despite the chilly air lol
Having grown up in a rust belt town, this imagery has a great beauty and appeal. Strong descriptions and sense of being a child with more wonder than fear of this urban landscape. Many great lines here. Among my favorites, "The trains raced by like rocket ships/I still feel their wind on my face" My perspective only, but I wonder if you even need the last parenthetical? Poem has a strong end with Eating Dinner and I think the reference to digital devices may do without saying. Just my minor thought on an outstanding poem. High marks.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

11 Years Ago

Thanks for your insights. I will consider them when i find enough time to spend more time here.
read more
Beautiful, mesmerizing beauty coming through words. It's painful to revisit the pure times of innocence but its worth it.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

11 Years Ago

I never find it painful. I wish I could go back for a day.
Wonderful trip down memory lane, Mike. I too recall a city-block childhood of roaming all day, and home for dinner...

I fell like that last line in parentheses is superfluous. Ending with "Sitting with our family, eating dinner" would have a strong impact. Just a thought - I do love this piece as it is.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Longing for times past. A lovely reminiscent write, Mike.

Posted 11 Years Ago


It sounds as if you had a wonderful childhood. I suppose most of us remember wonderful childhoods without the Internet or cell phones. THe past didn't need such thngs, eventhough the present can't do without them.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Michael G. Smith

11 Years Ago

Good observation Marie.

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12 Reviews
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Added on October 22, 2013
Last Updated on October 22, 2013
Tags: city, trains, childhood, river, milwaukee, industry


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