Great Uncle Bill !

A true story !

 Great Uncle Bill !

As a young lad, oft, I would visit an old man called William Brown

my grandmother's elder brother, who dwelt far out of town,

old fashioned by nature, working the land was all he ever had known

and I enjoyed helping out on his farm, where he lived all alone!

 

Despite advancing years, he still loved to tell a yarn or a joke

while puffing on a wooden pipe, blowing rings of elevating, blue smoke,

like the time he searched all over for his cap, forgetting it was on his head

or the night he found a clucking chicken, laying an egg on his bed!

 

Always fried bread, eggs and bacon for breakfast along with a cup a tea

then straight out into the fields, where he would work like a busy bee

and only when the sun had descended and he had completed every chore,

would he return to the house, to cook the same meal as before!

 

One day I was taken out early from school, straight to the home of old Bill

a Doctor stood gravely by his brass bed, my great uncle had taken very ill,

as I approached his bedside,  tears welled in my eyes, my heart heavy like lead

and as he lay there meekly breathing, he turned to me and softly said;

 

“Young Tom now my time is up, but I want you to know life has been fun

so remember to always have a laugh and that hard work, never killed anyone”!

Then with a smile he rested his head,  I clasped his hand as he gently sighed,

and in that timeless moment I stayed strong,  as he closed his eyes and peacefully died!  

I still remember him well despite his passing, some 30 odd years ago,

though now I am married with kids of my own, who set my heart all aglow,

quite often when I tell them a yarn or a joke, they laugh out ever so shrill,

and it reminds me of those happy days as a lad,  I spent with their great, great, Uncle Bill !

Reviews

[Neville]

Hey Tom,

Emma Joy hit the nail on the head with her review & what a absolutely delightful tribute to your Great Uncle who sounds that not only did he live life to the full but that he continues to have an impact on your life and values & now, quite possibly others. AGT's N

[Tom]

Thank you indeed Neville for just a glowing review !

[Neville]

Hey be assured, my pleasure entirely. N

[Einstein Noodle]

i'm so moved by this Tom. well done! Great Uncle Bill smiles everytime someone shares in a bit of his story you have written is really good story telling style .. rhymes, for me are natural and the conversational flow is a gentle river. All the way through memories of my Grampa and his three sons and families who all worked the family farm out on the prairies of the upper mid-west. Was you uncle without his wife?? Did he have one?? this tribute to your Uncle William Brown inspires me. i think we are about the same age and we have more and more people who surrounded our youthful lives passing on .. thanks for sharing .. glad i found this one Tom!
E.
ps. while searching for one i hadn't read of yours i couldn't help but take note of all your titles .. everyone seems to have a hook for me .. good stuff sir!

[Tom]

Many thanks E, for your candid thoughts & visit

[MsJewel]

What a delightful story/poem! You have some wonderful memories. Thank you for sharing them in this wonderful poem. A pleasure to read!
:) Julie

[Tom]

Thank you very much Ms Jewel !

[Dean]

You brought him back to life, that's for sure!

[Tom]

Thank you Dean, yes indeed that was the idea !

[Night]

This was a delightful read. You managed to accomplish the impossible (at least to me): weave a heartfelt story into brilliant poetry. I've always thought of poems as condensed emotions, but after reading this, I realize it is much more than that. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful tale.

[Tom]

Thank you Night for such an edifying review !

[Night]

You are very welcome :)

[emmajoy]

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS IT! What a fantastic piece of writing, so full of memories and descriptions of a life long since past but utterly precious and well worth recalling. What a hard but magically rewarding life great uncle Bill had, so representative of people those days, their work ethic and the pride in just being. ' like the time he searched all over for his cap, forgetting it was on his head.. ' could near see that!
Thank you for sharing both the good and sad times, the more than likely lessons learned, and so forth. Sitting here, smiling.

[Tom]

Thank you very much Emma Joy for such a perceptive, praiseworthy review !

[Girl Friday (Sarah W.)]

Oh, your stories, Tom...this is what you really do best. You are a storyteller in beautiful language. You dress things up in such a way as so that we can relate to them, but you are still showing us something about yourself. Clever moments, witty moments, heartfelt moments...everything was there for me to enjoy in this reading.

[Tom]

Thank you Girl Friday for such an enthusing review !

[Daisie Vergara (Dhaye)]

Tom, I really enjoyed reading this poem. I laughed at the second verse because it's really funny...but that's the truth with old men/women- they become forgetful.
But I was moved by the 4th and 5th verses. Death is inevitable. But though you expect it to happen for the old, you still have that sadness for he's your loved one.

I love the rhyme scheme and word choice. Remarkable piece!

[Tom]

Thank you dhaye for such a complimentary and insightful review !

[Robbie~xoxo~]

Tom, this is a touching read...
Not only did you have an impeccable flow and rhyme, you also managed to capture a heartfelt story of your Uncle Bill.
Pat yourself on the back...You have encapsulated a wonderful tribute, my friend. (print and frame this one)..~xoxo~:)

[Tom]

Thank you Robbie for such a wonderful review !

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Tom... I enjoyed this true story
of your great uncle Bill. My Grandfather
after being a coal miner in West Virginia ...
bought a farm in Delaware and with one
Horse and a plow he walked with the horse
To plow a garden every year. My Grandmother
milked their Cow every morning... We had
Home made butter. She fed the chickens and
We had fresh eggs. They had a smokehouse
and pigs. Bank Williams, Sr.'s songs filled the
air and we grandchildren learned how to live.
Grandpa Roop died of black lung from the coal
Mines. He left three sons and three daughters
with many grandchildren and memories.
Bless you Tom... truly... Pat

[Tom]

Thank you Patricia and indeed, your Grandfather sounds very similar to my great Uncle Bill, the old school !

[Patricia Wedel]

Yes Tom... I was only nineteen when my
Grandfather Dave passed. How I wish I
could now again sit at his hospital bed in the
Parlor and sing along with Hank Williams.Sr.
to oldies like "I'm Walking the Floor Over You".
I was his first grandchild and I was told that he
Loved me ever so much.
Now that I have three grands.. I understand
a grandparents love. truly... Pat