The Years of My Life, 1951

A Journey from 1944 to … Now

1951.

What was I like in ’51?

At seven, just a pile of fun?

I played at cowboys—had a gun.*

I didn’t know we soon would go

To Texas (south of us, you know?)—

Korean War. (Oh, bloody show.)

I was in second grade that year—

And it had grown so very clear

That I had many things to fear.

Among them? I was stuttering.

(My little bird tongue, fluttering.)

So soon I took to muttering.

And there were Big Kids here and there—

I wasn’t one—that isn’t fair!

They made me cry—they didn’t care.

And I Love Lucy—on TV.

And UNIVAC (a mystery).

A menace (Dennis)—new to me.

And I was playing lots of games—

Like Authors (I was learning names).

And baseball—yes, my pitches—flames!**

It was an odd—a different year.
I'd learned of love—and now of fear.
And both, at times, were very near.

* cap gun

** in my imagination