Jim and Me

Every Morning Jim and I would follow Daddy’s rule,
We filled our wagon with Johnson Grass before we went to school.
Mama’s cow would need her feed and she couldn’t eat just Hay
So Jimmy and I would pick the greens that fed her for the day.

The Depression wasn’t easy but no matter how bad it seemed,
Mom made sure that we had butter, clabber,cheese and cream.
It didn’t matter where we lived, in a house or in a tent,
We always had to have a cow no matter where we went.

I remember once when I was small, the cow just had a baby,
When Mama and I tried to pet it, the Mother cow went crazy!
The cow was coming at me, but Mother stood her ground.
Lightning struck the cow ran off but it knocked mama down.

Sometimes there would be pudding just for me and Jim,
I knew he would not eat his if I stuck my finger in.
Jim would kick and scream and cry but I didn’t really care,
I did it on an accident, my finger slipped in there.

Slingshots, Spitballs, lightning bugs, kick the can was nice,
Hopscotch; jump rope, marbles or sometimes our own device.
Climbing trees and playing chase were favorites of mine,
Jimmy loved the radio; those were the best of times.

We didn’t have a lot back then but we had each other,
I was the big sister watching over the little brother.
Jimmy played the Ukulele, we loved to sing and dance,
We never missed a performance if we got the chance.

we sang........
“Playmate, come out and play with me,
Bring your dollies three; we’ll climb the apple tree,
Holler down my rain barrel, slide down my cellar door
And we’ll be jolly friends, for evermore.”

Times back then were bittersweet and as my memories flow
I think of how I loved him and did not want him to go.
I do feel better knowing he is back with Mama now
And they wait for me in heaven, Mama, Jimmy and the Cow.