Poem No.12
BACK IN THE DAYS OF TANNERS AND BOBS
Back in the days of tanners and bobs,
When Mothers had patience and Fathers had jobs.
When football team families wore hand me down shoes,
and TV gave only two channels to choose.
Back in the days of threepenny bits,
when schools employed nurses to search for your nits.
When snowballs were harmless; ice slides were permitted
and all of your jumpers were warm and hand-knitted.
Back in the days of hot ginger beers,
when children remained so for more than six years.
When children respected what older folks said,
and pot was a thing you kept under your bed.
Back in the days of Listen with Mother,
when neighbours were friendly and talked to each other.
When cars were so rare you could play in the street.
When Doctors made house calls and Police walked the beat.
Back in the days of Dixon’s Dock Green,
Crackerjack pens and Lyons ice cream.
When children could freely wear National Health glasses,
and teachers all stood at the FRONT of their classes.
Back in the days of rocking and reeling,
when mobiles were things that you hung from the ceiling.
When woodwork and pottery got taught in schools,
and everyone dreamt of a win on the pools.
Back in the days when I was a lad,
I can’t help but smile for the fun that I had.
Hopscotch and roller skates; snowballs to lob.
Back in the days of the tanner and bob.
Anon
And here are a couple of extra verses:
Back in the days when we’d meet for a drink
And you felt free to say what you’d only now think;
A meal in a restaurant after a play
And no talk of keeping two metres away
A time you could casually go the shops
Without thinking someone will call out the cops
Or when you could give your grandchildren a hug
With no fear of catching some horrible bug
You could ride on a bus or get onto a plane
And go for a fortnight to Malta or Spain
And not see a statue being pulled down by yobs
Oh, bring back the days of the tanners and bobs!