Old Mr Allsorts lives down the street
He has a purple nose and big flat feet
Sometimes we help him with his chores
Because he’s lost ‘er in doors’
She used to make him Shepherd’s pie
She was the ‘Apple of his eye’
She loved the flicks and dancing too
But not this modern stuff they do
He tells us all about the past
Of children wearing funny flat caps
Of all the games he used to play
When he was a ‘nipper’ about our age
He can nolonger run and skip
He says he’s waiting for a new hip
But he makes us laugh with his funny stories
And he’s very proud of his war time glories
He talks of money he used to spend
Tuppence, thruppence and a paper pound
The trams and the toffee he used to eat
Even chips out of newspaper in the street
He speaks of an age long ago
That we can never know
But if we close our eyes and dream
We can just imagine every scene
Author notes
As a child I loved a small poetry book I was given one Christmas or it could have been for a Birthday from one of my older sisters. In it was my favourite poem ‘Old Mr Allsorts’, I have since lost the book and cannot trace a copy of the poem anywhere. I can only remember the first two lines so as a tribute to one that I loved I have completed the poem with my own ideas. They do not, I believe, resemble the original but as a primary teacher I can see many possibilities for its use in the classroom plus it was fun to write.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
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I have been trying to find this poem for years as I loved it as a child. I can only remember the first two lines as well. Do you remember another one about picking blackberries in that book?
Like your version a lot - a good modern take -
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pixiepie
Hello Pixie, wow you remember it too
wonderful!!!!
Ohhhh yes I do vaguely remember one about blackberries and there was Topsy Turvy land too, was Who killed Cock Robin in the book also?
I wish I could find it
It is lovely knowing that there is someone else out there who remembers dear Mr Allsorts
I'm glad you like my version, not a patch on the original but as a tribute to it surfices
Cherry
xxxx
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loved it
i loved how it rhymed it was beautiful -
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XxEmotionalWreckxX
Thanks
I'm so pleased you loved my poem. It has been something I have wanted to do for a long time.
Hugs
Cherry xx
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charming!
You captured his character and eccentricity! You might peak at some of Edwin Arlington Robinson's portrayals of the denizens of his imaginary Tilbury Town. Included are some poems you probably know: Richard Corey and Miniver Cheevy. Well done, my friend!
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Bruce
Ahhhh! Thanks Bruce ((hugs)). I have to be honest there is a lot of my Dad in this poem lmao he was just so funny sometimes (take a look at my poem The Black Fingernail if you get a mo
Haven't heard of these at all Bruce so going to look them up an google now. You are so 'well read' you put me to shame lol
Hugs and God Bless my friend
Cherry xxx
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Oh, I like your poem. The nostalgia of old mr allsorts took me back to listening to the tales my Grandad would tell and you paint the imagery well. How about " the sprasey?" Maybe tiny typo nolonger/ no longer but maybe you prefer it that way. Sometimes I type words together on purpose within a poem to compound their effect. I imagine OAPS would enjoy this poem as much as children, tests have proven that reminding our elderly of basic items from the past may well help with fighting dementia , I would encourage you to share this poem with the elderly too for that reason and for all the memories it may evoke for them.
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Yvette Champ
I'm so pleased you enjoyed my poem so much ((hugs))
I was one of the youngest of a big family and was quite used to sitting and listening to stories from grandparents, parents and older siblings alike lol it was quite a tradition So I guess I tapped into that experience in the poem and also taking my mom, when she was alive, to the local day centre for the elderly lmao I heard lots of tales there lmao. Hmmm I can see what you mean about reading it to them as well as children, sounds like a great idea
Hmmm the word/words nolonger. I did spell it that way intentionally because it seems that only recently I have seen it split. Prior to taking my degree it was the way I always spelt the word, it was quite a common thing in England to link words together that were often used together so I thought it would be a nice way to demonstrate it and would also be a talking point with the children.
Giggles I have tried to write it in such a way that there are many things that can be discussed.
Can you tell me what you mean by "the sprasey" as I have never come across this expression before?
Hugs
Cherry xxx -
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Cherry...
You are very welcome, it was a pleasure to read. Lucky you to have so many willing and able to share their stories and give them breath! "Sprasey" or a " Tanner" were other names that the small silver sixpence was known by ( pre decimalisation) it was traditionally baked inside Christmas Pudding and meant to be an omen of good luck if it was found in the portion of pudding served to you. Not so lucky if it wasn't discovered until it was inside the mouth lol. All the very best with your continued creativity, Yvette. -
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Yvette Champ
LMAO yes I have used the name Tanner for it myself but never heard it called a "Spracey" lol that's a new one on me lol. Giggles my nan used to make her own Christmas pud every year lmao (well we eat it the year after she made it) and we always searched through it for the sixpence before we dug in lol lol. It was definitely good luck if you found it, well we thought so as we didn't get much pocket money.
Giggles have to tell you this Yvette as you might find it as funny as I did, when my nephew was born my sis called him Robert but his surname was Tanner and as it was before decimalisation we nicknamed him 1/6 (one and six) giggles it was a shame we went decimal. giggles
Yes we may not have had much money but i do like to think we were rich in other ways and I do have so many memories now
Hugs and God Bless
Cherry xxx
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You get a big blue + by you work, teach
And being in the Mr. Allsorts
sort of way I must agree with
every line
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Gagikwe
LOL thanks for the big blue + lol. I think there may well be a quite a few Mr Allsorts out there, glad you enjoyed the poem
Hugs
Cherry xxx
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I love that line, But if we close our eyes to dream. we can just imagine every scene. love it, most awsome lines. This is a wonderful poem. You out did your self.
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Golden eyed
Thanks so much ((hugs)) I must admit the line came very natural as it has been something I have encouraged from the children when I have taught. I like to encourage their imaginations
I'm so pleased you enjoyed it so much
Hugs
Cherry xxx
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