Maybe this isn't poetry, but the language is poetic. Many decades ago, I read something that started:

Long, long ago,
In the Good Old Days
When dogs were tethered
With strings of sausages...

I can't remember how it continued, or indeed whether it did continue. Maybe it was the start of a poem, or of some magic-realist story, or maybe it was a catch-phrase translated from some foreign language and culture.

Does anyone know where it comes from?

Can anyone come up with comparably quirky and charming images to evoke the Good Old Days?

Ian

When everybody wore a hat
and everyone smoked a cigarette

I had hoped to find something through Google...I did find the following.....now what you were looking for but comical anyway.

all animated dogs always steal perfect strings of sausages from street butchers who are always big, hairy and possibly Italian.

"I loathe people who keep dogs. They are cowards who haven't got the
guts to bite people themselves." -- August Strindberg

(I couldn't find your quote sorry)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mystic: One who experiences mystical union, or direct communion with God or Ulitmate reality.

Elixir: A substance held capable of prolonging life indefinitely, a sweetened, alcoholic, medicinal solution...I am