Ole McGarty "In Honor of Gentleman Jim"

"You know boys" he would always say "why if there's one thing I am not" "Attention grabbing back stabbing" "but I've won every fight I've fought"

Jim McGarty 84 yrs old Picture from 1985 Quad City Downs.

McGarty twisting a new tale

his feet on the pot belly stove

There in the barn, he'd spin a yarn

piling on like a treasure trove

"You know I don't think I told you

how I won the second World War

Ole Ike, needed help with the Reich

and he looked to me and the corps"

 

"Now the country had called on me

Ike wanted us to break the line

So I told Dwight, schedule a flight

just drop us this side of the Rhine

Then my men and I took the field

laying waste such a German swath

Led all the men, yep there and then

survived only on bread and broth"

 

"Well we sought no recognition

I let Ike spin his fairy tale

We were fine, drinking Hitler’s wine

just happy to blaze the trail"

Jim had a weakness for the blondes

touting one on each of his arms

"Easy to see, why they like me

they're after me lucky charms"

He had claimed many a patent

while inventing all the great things

Held universities, degrees

knew all the heads of states and kings

Jim served in World War One and Two

circumnavigated the globe

Hung out on the Nile, for awhile

invented Nasa's first space probe

 

 

"You know boys" he would always say

"there are a couple things I'm not

Attention grabbing, back stabbing

though I've won every fight I've fought"

When the iced wind blew through the trees

we would gather ourselves around

That smiling face, McGarty’s place

where he entertained half the town

Author's Note

Gentleman Jim:Teller of tall tales and whimsical dreams. He was the epitome of our childish inner selves.Take a bow McGarty. You were one of a kind and the worlds greatest storyteller.

Reviews

[cynthiabuhainbaello]

The quatrains fall perfectly well with the flow of the content, the hidden rhyme not really noticeable as one concentrates on the narrative's theme. The arrangement of 8 syllable count is quite impressive and a hard feat to do, I transgress on this most of the time and David calls it a "forced" rhyme. (Ouch!) The rhyme scheme ABCB is excellently done in this story, and the content is delightfully light, witty, yet every bit human, so it touches the reader in a warm sort of way. You amaze me with this narrative and I hope you will write more of them. The Paget Meter is going to be a challenging exercise for me too.

[Norma M Sutton]

lol Sounds like he was quiet a character :) I can see him in my mind's eye.

[quinfinn]

i knew a character like this in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Va...back in the 70's, everyone called him skilly even though he had no real talents, but, boy could he spin a yarn! thank you Tate for this wonderful tribute to that memory of yours, so beautifully and craftily written. a true joy to read and to remember old skilly hawkins

[Lena M. P.]

Beautiful tribute to another storyteller. The world needs its Ole Farleys to brighten our days. They are the Leprechauns of Lore, the fireside bards, the tall teller of tales. Nicely written.

[Raven Starhawk]

I honestly think your love affair with words is astounding. I may not know the man but I am certainly going to find out more about him now. You have such a lovely view of him.

[外人 (Gaiji..]

That was pretty cool ! I think you're learning from your mentor, I'm catching the same "old-man-story-telling-style" that characterize most of Paget's poetry :)
Great job, man =D

[Art Sun]

nice of you to bring a poem with the adventurous creativity of the past (or childhood) of someone who made a part of you ...or him...glad to have stopped by Tate...and appreciate you stopping by my way...friend

[Heather]

Very nicely done Tate, I loved the stories he weaved for the audience. I can see why you would like a man like this, one could probably sit and listen to his tales for hours on end. Lovely write, as always.

[zainul]

Tate is always a perfectionist.
This is why I take adequate time to enjoy the beauty of his work.
This poem is a wonderful piece.
The character like Farley is unique yet common in all cultures.
We can call them person of wisdom.
We are enlightened,encouraged and entertained by their knowledge and presentation.
I feel that Tate is only poet who writes information about rhymes,meters and syllables perfectly.
We can automatically learn the basics of poetry when we read his poem.
I congratulate Tate Morgan for his wonderful work.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you sir.

[zainul]

You are always welcome.

[afra]

i love it ....i think its your best so deep and beautiful ....well done