I used to wear a bathing suit
'cept when I went to swim
'cuz it was hot I kid you not
and lake was better to be in.
Water was the costume then
with just the head above it,
Reflecting sky into your eye
as for the rest just shove it.
Verse I know is just to show
such freedom as a kid,
Translate the way it is today
and it would be just stupid.
And bare buttocks on the rocks
to catch the perfect tan?
Hoping that the sound we heard
was not the fisherman...?
Private shores of long ago
are why I was intrepid.
I didn't know the fun below
was the better to be hid.
Retrospective Terry
Author notes
1940's
A contest entry
- This CONTEST # 21 IS ONLY OPEN FOR HUGH WYLES FAVORITES. by huguenauties.
750 points, ended September 28, 2007, 9 entries
Honorable mention
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 25 of 25
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Terry was a terrible teen
Behavior that should not be seen
You were much too wild for me
Is this a safe place to be?!
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wispful memories where joy of those simple times are held one echo at a time!
Yes you have me smile as I remember that past of my own!
Keep penning on one stroke at a time!
Bill
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With all the snow we've been getting lately, this was a nice side-trip into Summer. Thank you Bill! I did not realize how fortunate I was to have such a summer place to live. Funny how we take things for granted. We often went there in winter too, with skis. Happy memories.
"one stroke at a time!" Keystroke, actually. I have completely abandoned the pen. Easier and neater to edit, this way, no tedious rewrites.
Sending you live ones:
Terry
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Cute ...
and probably a common enough thing among the young in rural areas. Sorry to say I never tried it, but then I grew up on a farm and never had any friends until I left home at 18. There weren't any other kids my age at all in the area. It was a strange thing, and I probably grew up too fast.
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Likewise alone
As an only child I grew up like that too, "in the sticks,"
as we used to say, a mile beyond the end of the gravel road, accessed by canoe in summer, skis over lake ice in winter. Swimming was pretty remote, on hot days with just my mother, but usually alone with our German Shepherd dog for company, and he didn't mind. He always swam too.
That end of the lake is still as it was, with only the one place at the end of the bay. Steep rocky shores on both sides. I found it peaceful.
Thank you!
Terry
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Terry,
Nice work capturing the playful spirit of youth. Harkens back to the (not so long ago) days of the lounge hot tub and "Terry towels". My smile for the day.
Mike
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From September?
Just a bit late replying... Just found your comment now.
I really must complain that I often do not get notices about comments...I thought it was automatic -- well, better two months late than never. Apologies for that!
I still have a hot-tub poem-- a monorhyme sonnet of all things.
Terry -
Oh good heavens!
Mike, from the rafters?? Still studying bats of varying kinds? How wonderful!! Anybody else here from those days?
I am again helping elect our local Liberal and busiest. If you go to Sharepoetry the top poem in my page there expresses sorrow in losing our old group... The French is translated below in case your HS translation falters, missing what we all had. But I can't believe this!!
Thank you!! There is another poem in this!
Terry
PS when less blind:
Sharepoetry
Sharepoetry
Sharepoetry
Sharepoetry
Sharepoetry AARGH!
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growing up in busy sydney,
where people were so up tight
to go and swim with out my togs
would have got me in deep shite!
i remember when i was 6,
we lived in the country for a while
all the kids were at the river
naked bums for atleast a mile.
i felt so weird standing at the banks
the only one with clothes
and even swim shoes, and a hat
with floaties and zinc on nose.
for several years yet to come,
i never dared to strip me kit
cause my mummy dearest on the shaw
would have had a major fit
but now much older and independent
i can make the choice to strip
i have taken the plunge a number of times
but now a mum i cover up a bit
i have liked to feel the joy
of being totally free
but unfortunately i was sheltered
but i would have it differently.
so thanks for writing this wonderful pc
and explaining it so well
for now i understand the rush
of swimming nud aswell.
til
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for Am8ur
My belated apologies for not replying sooner--I honestly meant, and events led me astray. A poem inspired by one's own is the greatest compliment and such a poem, written in matching meter and rhyme, is truly the top. Thank you so much!
What a different childhood we had! We lived at a deep lake with steep rocky shores thirty miles from the nearest city, several hundred miles of uninhabited forest between us and Georgian Bay (on the Great Lakes) 1930's to '40's where our place was the farthest. No other people ever came near our side, except for a single fisherman in a rowboat going by.
Mostly I swam alone with the dog, occasionally with my mother on really hot days. "Only" child, never lonely.
When you were 6, the country kids were free, and with "proper" upbringing, you missed it... Not that I fault the more polite way with many people about, especially. But a pity where no overtones interfered, the innocence of it, trees did not judge, and fish were quite indifferent as they slowly swam away. I suppose if there had been boys nearby I would have missed it too, not because I was told, but because of who I was. But that freedom of water gently passing by is one of the few early indelibles. Thank you for bringing another perspective to appreciate it more.
And thank you for the applause.
Terry
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I only went skinny dippin' with my husband, just the two of us in his father's pool. I really enjoyed how it felt to swim around that way..feeling just a little bit naughty and "free"!!
I enjoyed your poem and wish I could have had such a place to swim when I was young. I'm happy that you're doing so well since your knee surgery. I love happy endings!
Good Luck in the contest!
Maureen
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Thank you Maureen, you are right-- the feeling of unencumbered swimming is indeed something long remembered.
Most of my skinny stuff was solo. Nobody used to worry about children's safety the way they do now, not after they could swim well anyway...
I loved your poem too Maureen, and wish I could have started comments before midnight. 1 AM now.
Terry
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Dear Terry,
It sounds like you had plenty of fun in the water when you were a kid. What better way to swim and back in the 40's there wouldn't be the crowd around that we have today, but I can remember seeing a lot of kid's in the water in their birthday suits.
Hmmm, I hope the Fisherman never caught any of you.
Thank you for entering our group contest and good luck in the voting.
's Joan
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Thanks Joan,
Most of the time I swam alone. As an "only child" back in the thirties and forties it was okay for a kid, a strong swimmer, to do that-- The bay was quite large and wonderful wild raspberries grew some distance from my shore. I swam there (sidestroke) with an empty jar in my left hand and returned, the jar full. Memories.
The fisherman never came near--he was catching bass and perch, not kids.
Terry
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Dear Terry,
I like my whiskey on the rocks
but buttocks not so sure.
Like feet without a pair of socks
bare bums can get quite sore.
I think the feel of being free
gets better as one ages.
At least that's how it's been with me
throughout my various stages.
In childhood I was rather shy,
being told it was quite rude
when I, at Sunday School, would try
to get girls to go nude.
In midlife, I am pleased to say,
I met with more success.
A few would let me have my way
and willingly undress.
Around the world I often chose
nice girls with whom I laid
but, always, I avoided those
who wanted to be paid!
And now, when I'm a D O M
reviewing my past life,
I have forgotten most of them
except my darling wife!
~~~
Thankyou for your charmingly retrospective entry which
inspired my own reminiscence as above.
Good luck in the voting. Applause.
Love and hugs, as always, XXX Hugh (R.)
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Thank you Hugh (R.)
You made me glad that I came here,
--and wrote a poem rather higher
up the scale than I had meant
to go... I hardly dared aspire...
But then I saw where others went
while confessing scant attire--
And then the poem that you sent
with skill that I admire!
Is there greater compliment
than in the poem inspired!
Thank you!
Terry
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Lol... you sure brought back a couple of memories with this delightful poem... I should talk my sis, J aime coudre into collaborating on a poem about our skinny dipping experience. She always remembers things differently than me, so should be kinda interesting.
Your poem is such a pleasure to read, both in content and structure. That last stanza has me giggling
Good luck in the contest
Dee
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Thank you Dee
That lake was really quite a remote one, and ours the only bay at that whole end, inhabited by chipmunks and little birds, accessible only by boat. It was a steep shore, rock down to deep-dark water, and wonderfully peaceful. Never busy, hardly even known. No cottages there even yet, sixty years later, because we had the only place even to have a dock. Everyone should have a childhood at a place like that.
Yup, memories!
Terry
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Retrospective indeed! Ah, but I'd trade knowledge to get my ignorant youth back any day!
I never was the type to dare things like skinny dipping and streaking...maybe if I had a model's body...
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I thought all the young have bodies like that!
Without even trying!!
"Ah, but I'd trade knowledge to get my ignorant youth back any day!" you said. I thought of that a while and at first agreed... but then the thought of all the mistakes I had to live down, choices I might have made differently, and I decided it was better left behind me. There is a lot to be said for peace too. (Someday I'll find mine.) It was a great childhood though. The sandwich of my life!
Thank you!
Terry
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This is light and wonderful verse Terry, those days are long gone except in the farthest reaches of civilization. I like this interpretation of the contest, I was in a quandary about the unmentionables.
Nice internal rhymes and great imagery, I enjoyed it.
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I still live in those "farthest reaches of civilization,"
to a large extent. We did not have to boat many miles upriver here to find many such unspoiled places on the shore, where--except on weekends,-- we could camp for days and never even see another boat. Northern Ontario, where deer come down to the shore to drink, and bald eagles soar!
Tomorrow I will comment on poems I read today but am really tired after yesterday's thirteen-hour round trip to Toronto, driving into morning fog. Apparently my new metal knees will be written up in the medical journal and (research project that it was,) will be taught henceforth in the medical school at U of T. Entirely new procedure. They were delighted to see how easily and fast I can walk now without canes. And....NO....pain!!
But I must go--Shhh! My pillow calls!
Terry -
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I'm so happy for you that your knee surgery went so well I know it's a wonderful feeling for you to be pain free and able to walk on your own.
Dee
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Yay! That is wonderful Terry - new mobility and no pain is the best possible outcome. I hope that many people will be helped by your courageous example.
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Update January 13 08
I feel I have dropped 30 years somewhere, it is such a treat to be able to walk briskly, fast even, striding along like other people half my age, hills up and down, uneven ground-- I hope everyone appreciates what we all take for granted until it is gone.
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