Growing up during the sixties in Chicago,
'The baddest part of town' the song would go.
My life was filled with laughter, love, and family,
though we were poor, I really didn't know.
In the alley, we'd play Red Light/Green Light,
Statues, Freeze Tag, Hide and Seek, jump rope.
The ice cream truck came, we'd run home for quarters,
that Mom had spare change, was our fervent hope.
The sidewalks in the summer always sizzled,
but still, we ran around in our bare feet,
older kids would open up the hydrant,
one sure way, us kids would beat the heat.
We lived in tenements with other families,
though little food, Mom made sure that we ate,
So many happy memories to recall,
but there were also bad ones, no debate.
I was shy and picked on at my grade school,
my hair was pulled and I was pushed around,
and though my thoughts, on sad days, sometimes go there,
many more happy memories abound.
I had a Father,Mother, sister, brother,
a family unit bonded by great love,
seems like families back then, stuck together,
my childhood, for me, fit like a glove.
I wish that I could go back, just for one day,
to see them all again and be a part
of my loving family, I would treasure,
each moment, I would store safe in my heart.
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