When I was young

Recalling carefree times of yore, a reader recalls how fun life used to be in her youth.

When I was a young,

I cycled around my neighbourhood, In my small BMX,

I went to the shop by the river, Called for the aunty,

Just to buy lollipops and “asam” It cost only 20 sen.

When I was young,

I enjoyed my bicycle rides, Then I fell off from my bicycle, My knees bled,

I just sat in a corner and cried, Waited for mum to apply medicine.

When I was young,

I walked to school,

I saw people waiting at the bus stop, I smiled, they smiled,

I saw many huge trees along the way, They provided shade as I walked,

I had friends to talk to on my way to school, It was fun.

When I was young,

I walked with my sisters,

To the oil palm plantation,

To collect palm seeds,

My grandma used them to make fire, And she boiled water outside the house, Those were the days.

When I was young,

I played “konda-kondi”,

Hit the stick and run to catch it, Everyone will be cheering, Wooooo ...

It was fun with friends and siblings.

When I was young

I hardly took an afternoon nap,

I would sneak out,

Walk around my garden,

Talk to the plants,

Cut the love grass,

Without knowing that they “loved” me more, As they stayed on my shorts.

When I was young,

I climbed the guava tree,

It was a joy,

Plucked the fruit and enjoyed them, Tasty or not, the fruit was good,

It was my little mischief with cousins.

When I was young,

I went to the beach,

From dawn to dusk,

With cousins and siblings, Uncles and aunties,

Ate on the beach and swam in the sea.

When I was young, Holidays were great fun, Meeting with cousins was a must, Monopoly to the wee hours,

The park to play catching,

And finally, enjoyed dinner together.

When I was young,

Life was beautiful,

No worries, no doubts, Neighbours were good, Everyone was helpful,

And that was when I was young.