After the Rainfall
by Richard Diem
A fun play time activity after a rain was going right outside to sail our ice cream pop sticks along the curb side streams. Streets with little sloping inclines were the best. Of course there were obstacles sometimes but that would only challenge the skills of the captain’s sailing ability to navigate his path of travel along the curb, and enhance the fun we were having. Obstacles could be little pebbles, bottle caps or whatever it was that impeded the flow of our brave pop sticks. So for all Sunnyside sailors I offer a poem to remember this fun time after a rainfall.
U.S.S. Popstick
Sailing Sunnyside Streets
by Richard Diem
The Captain’s out to sea
His thoughts please don’t disturb
He must navigate his ship
Gently down the curb
The storm has swelled the tides
On this voyage made from dreams
The Captain guides his vessel
Through the rippled streams
Gaining more momentum
Winding down the hill
The flags are flying high
Each curb’s another thrill
Blow ye winds of memory
Through imagination’s eye
With his mates the Captain’s sailing
Into time that’s long gone by
When on the city streets
Where all his rivers ran
He charted every course
He always had a plan
Prepared for every voyage
He’d mastered every trick
Having eaten all his ice cream
He simply sailed the stick
Richard Diem came to Sunnyside early in life, attended PS 150 and JHS 125. and L.I.C. H.S., after which he entered the Marine Corps. He went on to become the franchised manager of a newspaper home delivery service and later, a Postal Service mail carrier. He is a minister to the homebound through his church and a professional caregiver forced into retirement by Covid-19. He loves writing about his childhood memories.