When Daddy Packed Our Lunch

In our little prairie school-house
We were a studious bunch,
But we all found it hard to wait
For noon-bell and our lunch.
Our mama never spared herself
When fixing us a meal.
We would find in our lunch boxes
Food with gourmet appeal.
Betwixt thick slices of her bread,
Our daddy's home-smoked ham;
Mama's fresh apple-butter
Or some of summer's jam.
A thermos full of new made soup
Or great tasting cocoa.
No chance we'd ever trade lunches
With little Sue or Joe.

There would be some oatmeal cookies
Or apples for desserts.
We'd eat it up so fast someimes
We'd dribble on our shirts.
But the most exciting times of all
For Mama's greedy bunch,
Were those few times when she was sick
And Daddy packed our lunch.
Along with all the normal things
Like our mama would pack;
We'd find a store-bought wonder
In our lunch pails or sack.
It was like waiting for Christmas,
We'd wiggle in our seats,
Wondering about the big surprise
He'd added to our eats.

Could be a nickel candy bar
Or marshmallow eclair,
Maybe a box of Cracker Jacks
We'd find included there.
I don't know how he managed it,
I only know he did;
For our daddy had a sweet tooth,
He'd passed down to each kid.
Those good old days are long gone now,
We are a scattered bunch;
But each of us remembers when
Our daddy packed our lunch.

By Joyce 01/10/04