School Dinners Way Back When

You either loved them or hated them.  But, for some, this was their only hot meal of the day.

School Dinners Way Back When

The bell would ring, the morning done
Lunchtime fun had just begun
Desks now deserted and outside we’d go
A great release, as I’m sure you know

But first things first, it’s time for lunch
With rumbling tums, we need to munch
The only thing that we could do
Was to join the growing dinner queue

Will it be mash, one scoop or two?
Liver and onions, or pie for you?
Casserole with dumplings or gooey suet pud
Don’t forget some veg, you know you really should

Now chips they were a special treat
And were also my favourite thing to eat
The trick was not to be the last
As these always sold out super-fast

And as for dessert, what can I say
The favourite part of any school day
Jam roly-poly and sticky toffee pud
A dollop of custard, it tasted so good!

Cornflake tart, so tasty, you really had to crunch
Rice pud or semolina, which one did you munch?
Treacle sponge, or jam, with a dob of the pinkest custard
Your taste buds now in overdrive, it really cut the mustard

I hope I’ve wet your taste buds, taken you back for seconds
Stirred up thoughts of yesteryear, where childhood memories beckon
Many years have passed now since we joined the dinner queue
A little trip down memory lane, a little taste for me and you.

© Maxine Bailey
May 2022