When I was a boy,
Nearly seven decades ago,
I walked two miles
To the beach
To the beach
All by myself.
I walked down
Junipero Avenue.
I rolled my eyes
Knowing how the locals
Mispronounce it as
One a pair oh.
I’d cross Anaheim Street
And read the Cabart Theater Marquee
Looking for a pair of movies
I’d like to see.
I’d like to see.
I continued on
Passing by the California Bungalow houses
Passing by the California Bungalow houses
On my Independent Press Telegram
Paper route.
I’d watched the cars whizzing by
I’d watched the cars whizzing by
As I’d wait for the light on 7th Street.
I’d pass Doctor Logan Jackon’s house,
Glad that I didn’t need to get a shot.
I crossed Broadway
To the Park Pantry restaurant,
And hoped that someday
I could afford to eat there.
I'd stroll through Bixby Park
Scanning, Searching, and hunting
For any friends who might
Want to play at the beach.
When there were,
And when there weren't,
I'd cross the park
From one corner
To the corner
Of Cherry and Ocean.
I'd descend the stairs
Into the Bixby Park tunnel
That went under
Ocean Boulevard
To the beach.
I always found friends
Some I knew
Some I’d just met.
We'd play at the shore
And play tag with the waves.
Some kids had skim boards
I always found friends
Some I knew
Some I’d just met.
We'd play at the shore
And play tag with the waves.
Some kids had skim boards
Some had floats.
We’d play all day.
We’d play all day.
When we got hungry
We pull out the bologna sandwich
We pull out the bologna sandwich
That we’d made at home.
Our teeth crunched the sand
Our teeth crunched the sand
That the wind always,
Always, always blew
Onto our sandwiches.
When it was time to go home
I'd go into the tunnel
And back through the park.
I needed to be home
Well before it got dark.
When it was time to go home
I'd go into the tunnel
And back through the park.
I needed to be home
Well before it got dark.
I am sad
That the tunnel
Is no more.
I suppose
When children of ten
Were no longer allowed
To walk to the beach
All by themselves,
They sealed the tunnel,
And the memories
And only left a mural
At the ocean side
Of the tunnel.
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