My Home Town

I’m not sure why I chose to go On the little train to Marlow – That’s the town where I lived and grew And, for a time, ’twas all I knew

Maybe I just wanted to see Places that had been dear to me A building where sometimes I went A park where much more time I’d spent

Of course there has been so much change And some of the town looks quite strange For though the years have flown by fast Yet those times seem far in the past

As soon as I did disembark Changes were obvious and stark Some sights I’d known had now all gone Bare land had houses built upon

First to the park where I did play Dropped and broke my glasses one day But now it’s just a vacant space Which seems to me such a disgrace

Then passed the school I did attend What has become of all my friends? Thence my old walk home passed Esso Which isn’t now, it’s a Shell, oh!

The next place I did go to view My house at Trinity Av’nue From the outside looked much the same As ‘twas the last time that I came

And adjacent the cemetery Where as a child I’d roamed freely I wandered round, had an explore Under the chapel, an open door!

As shed and wheelbarrow I find Thoughts of old times come to my mind But something new at the top does wait - An entrance complete with gate

Then onto parents’ recent home Passed where had stood a public phone Much else, in time elapsed, has gone To expect not would be quite wrong

On again my steps did tread Unto the church where I was wed Much work in twenty-five years done Including the Ark Cafe they run

Then to Higginson Park thither Through Portlands Alley to the river - The beautiful suspension bridge That wonderf’ly adorns the town’s edge

Fin’ly to the station returned As from my walk much I had learned Rememb’ring so much from my past Rekindling memories that last