Memories of another time

Memories of another time  .....

My memory stirs to take me back...to our home beside
                   the railroad track
where back and forth the shunter went...never seeming
                   to relent.
Empty box cars shunted in...to be filled with
                   coal....from....
                   the coal yard bin
the whistle blew...then clickety clack...it pushed the
                   cars along the track.
The coal yard was our frontal view...these sounds we
                   were accustomed  too.
to see and hear trains day and night...was no more to
                   us...than a familiar sight.
It was another era...another time...when we lived at
                  .old 69'.
the war had just ended, times were tough...what jobs
                  there were...didn't pay enough.
There was little money to be had...there were six of
                   us ,,,and Mom and Dad.
In winter, our only source of heat...was a wrought iron
                  stove to warm hands and feet.
our house was rented....in need of repair...but the land-
                  lady didn't seem to care.
Dad's job didn't pay a whole lot...Mom stretched the
                  the meager wages.,...he got.
passed down clothes from one sister to another.....
                 which were mended and altered by our busy
                              mother..
Groceries were charged at the corner store ....we were
                 clean and neat ....but we were poor.
somehow, it didn't seem that way...your only poor...if
                 you can't pay.
And we got by and learned to share...cause...love dwelt
                in that home there.
it enriched our lives in so many ways...to treasure and
               cherish all our days.
Our parents are gone now, we are grown....with homes
               and families of our own.
but always my mind still wanders back ...to that house
               beside... the railroad track.
written by me
Norma J. Suddard back in January 1997.