I REMEMBER A TIME

I remember a time –
When God was feared –
A Mother respected,
And a Father Revered.

I remember a time…
When a man took a wife –
The vows were held sacred
And they kept them for life.

I remember a time…
When a walk in the park
Would not cost you your life,
If done after dark.

I remember a time…
When television was clean –
Father knew best,
And sex was obscene.

I remember a time…
When a thumb took you far
And conversation was payment
For your ride in the car

I remember a time…
When the way to get high –
Was one soda too many,
And boy did we fly!

I remember a time…
When I would avoid doing crack –
In respect to my mother,
To break not her back.

I remember a time…
When beer was a dime for a draft –
Songs sung of love,
Not angrily rapped.

I remember a time…
On that desperate occasion –
When a spray can of Raid,
Was insurance, against home invasion.

I remember a time…
When I was paddled in school –
And Dad gave another for breaking the rules.

I remember a time…
When my Father had hair –
And a teacher would fail you,
Because he did care.

I remember a time…
When a mouse was a pest –
And Moms curlers were held,
By a thing called “The Net”.

I remember a time…
When the Pirates were good-
The players were loyal,
The bats solid wood.

I remember a time…
Before Edgar’s kind came –
When a man slipped and fell,
The ice was to blame.

These were the times
In the youth of my life –
When a wrong was a wrong,
And a right was a right,
Authority, Respect, Loyalty, Love –
These words fit the times
Like a hand in a glove.

Now, the glove has been altered.
And ill, it does fit –
For now, if you throw money at evil,
You better damn well acquit!!!

James Anthony Thomas