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Children

I hear the laughter of children at play,
As the snow falls to the ground.
Skies covered with clouds of gray,
In the morning as birds make their sounds.
The smiles upon their tiny faces,
Such a wonderful sight to see.
Little girls with pretty pink laces,
Boys imagining what they want to be.
Dreams of riches filling their heads,
As they grow so fast before our eyes.
Don't let them fool you, their not easily led.
Children are wise, as the eagle that flies.
The young are our future rule.
Teach them all that is right.
Encourage children to stay in school.
It is through education they will reach the
Greatest of Heights.

First let me introduce myself properly. My name is Peter A.Todd. As you all know I write poetry . I do not read the writings of other poets ,and I could barely try to equal another's writings. I was born in Gloucester in 1943.a bad time for everybody. Due to those times I spent the first ten years of my life in State homes,again through no fault of my parents or family.I did spend one year in each of the ten homes I was in.This was because of childhood sicknesses.
I lived in Milton,Brockton,Plymouth Duxbury, Hanover,Plymouth ,Kingston,Whitman and Brockton Mass. I returned home to Gloucester in 1953,with my sister Sylvia, at that time my guardian angel actually besides my wife she still is .
Upon my arrival back to Gloucester we lived at 124 Washington Street , next door to where Duncan Donuts now stands. In State homes you usually end up with not more than two foster sisters or brothers. It was that fact that made me want to go out and shine shoes, kind of to escape the fact that I had even at that time a lot of sisters and brothers, not including the Stewart family of the house I first lived in.
For this reason I am going to attempt to give you my personal glimpse of your city,Gloucester.I am calling this Corner to Corner and In-between , because it will represent the now and then of the corners of my life and its in-between's
On my first ride into Gloucester the first corner I noticed was George's Market, which is now George's Coffee Shop. Back then it was a simple corner grocery store that feed the nearby families, but its history is still embedded in it .Dean Sallah is keeping up the family tradition of keeping his customers well fed. I know as I sit at the counter I cannot help but reflect the times when I was working for the Linsky's , mostly Morris. The Linsky's always knew the good places to eat , and George's was one of their favorites. When I look at the wall and see the clammers I think of my Dad when he used to go out and dig clams , take them home , shuch them , and then sell them . George's would always buy them from our Dad . I can reflect on all the Linsky's in later years sitting at the counter and eating breakfasts fit for a King, along with great coffee.
Yes fond memories do come back to me every I set foot in George's , but the greatest is of that of the generosity of the Sallah Family. I remember Dean's uncle Fred who had the Lebanon Club on Maplewood Ave , where Gloucester Rental now stands. I remember Sam Marshall who also used to be a customer . It is my belief that the picture of the truck on the wall was his , but I need people to advise me of the facts. So I invite you the reader to stop on by , to this famous spot at the entrance of your city. In your visit you will find the greatest of Lebanese and American food .You will also have the pleasure of meeting Dean's Staff , Tina,John Orlando,Helen & Sarah the younger girls ,and speaking of young Lilly and Sam and Leah. In closing let me bring your attention to a new member of Dean's staff ,but indeed a well known lady in the food business . Carol has moved from the far corners of Eastern Ave , and has settled into George's . So come on in where eating is the finest and its heritage is vast, and fill you cup with coffee that will last and last and last. Oh rumor has it you can get copies of poems there. Catch you next issue.