Birdie
Birdie Hosford
Birdie Hosford ranks first in my mem'ry of girls.
Just a fleeting short mem'ry, that's all.
Rebecca -- her sister -- and she, with their mom
Were at 3830 that fall.
Our moms were conversing inside -- we were out
Breathing fresh air and otherwise bored.
When Rebecca (or Becky) had this great idea
For a game sounding somewhat hard-core.
The name, she explained, held the rules in a phrase
Six small syllables, three of them -- 'em --
There was "Catch 'em" and "Kiss 'em" then "Ditch 'em" -- that's it.
Don't know 'twas for us or for them …
I think only boys were to go after girls,
In the '50s, that kinda made sense.
Now'days girls catch too, prob'ly girls and/or boys!
But back then, I guess we were more dense …
But I dutif'ly caught Birdie numerous times,
Planting wet, sloppy kisses to cheeks.
And she dutif'ly squirmed, each time rolling away
It's too bad it didn't go on for weeks!
But alas, just one night full of fun -- that was it --
Both the girls and their mom didn't return.
But the image of Birdie -- with her innocent smile
Maybe taught me the meaning of "yearn."