I’ve been carrying this around since the late 80s. This was dedicated to the home I grew up in, at least the first home I had a great fondness for. With the excess time off I’ve had due to medical issues I came back to it, with a couple additions. I don’t know if they help or if its crap. I’m just going to throw it out there and let you decide.
Hello old friend, has it been so long
Since I went far away
Those days are still strong
I left very young, yes it’s been a few years
But for the days long past
I can’t shed any tears
Hey old friend, did the grass stain our pants?
It never spawned any weeds
Or a ‘puppy-doo’ dance
[Neighbors’ ladder sliding along side-boards
While my brothers laughed from the second floor window
And the neighbor raised a fist
GI Joes were not for adulation
But burying in the nearest storm drain]
We’d curl up at dawn on that vent in the floor
The grill marked me up
While the others got warm
[Shattered glass backed into unseen
‘cause I didn’t want to wear a shirt
Comic books in sickbed, Man of Steel with a golden key
Curled up on the couch
All four eyes glued to Spider-Man]
We always ran up the stairs, almost beat them to death
Mom never got her sleep
And she’d scream us all deaf
[Weekends on the radio, Casey Kasem counting down
Or EG Marshall with another mystery theater
In the dark we’d listen, my brothers and me
Did they enjoy those shows
Or tolerate them for my sake?]
[Drove past you one fully grown afternoon
To a stranger, remodeled, painted a dingy brown
Defiled]
So long old friend, I don’t think it’s the end
You were too good to me
I hope I come home again.
Papablues Scrapbook 