Wednesday, 5 December 2018


Marj And Joe

Remember the time when you were young and bold, nothing to worry about, not so much as a care
The innocence of it all was so omnipresent, carrying on on a wing and a prayer
Surely doesn't seem that long ago, but so many years have gone by in the blink of an eyelash
School was finished, then work, then parenthood, then children's children came in a flash

What stands out so vividly in my aged memory bank, for I was maybe in my thirties or so
Is a recollection of an older man and his wife, and how the love for her man did show
He had suffered a stroke many years before, and she had taken on the care-giving role
Marj was somewhat serious and Joe had been, a happy-go-lucky soul

Joe had been reduced to a totally dependent person, but Marj treated him like a king
She shaved his face, combed his hair and wiped his mouth, did all and everything
She'd help him into his rocking chair and as he'd peer out through the clouded window pane
Marj would cook and read him books and oh, so lovingly say Joe's name

She told me how much she misses him and how, when a tear rolls down his face
She has such a hard time remaining strong and often, has to change her space
'Cause Joe understands all she says, but just barely moves his eyes
Marj told me she weeps at nights, but in front of Joe inside, silently she cries

Joe had been a hard-working, diligent man, but very gentle and also very kind
At times a little tough and his hands were rough, but he loved Marj with all his soul and mind
She said Joe was her best friend and she knew, she was his best friend too
Said she missed; with such rough hands, such a gentle touch, never enough for she, that he could do

She missed the man he used to be and as she showed me, many a photograph
A tear rolled down as she talked of him, his sense of humour and how he always made her laugh
She sighed a lot as we went through the pics and she went on about him so sweet and smart
And that when they were young, she had another beau, But Joe was the one who stole her heart

Well on the weekends the grand kids come and around the house they'll play
At times she feels despondent, for they really don't know him and it's just, “hi grampa they'll say”!
Joe had the biggest heart and loved Marj so much and still together, after all these years
I hugged Marj and as I wiped her cheek, I could feel the sadness in her tears

I've listened to love songs, read love stories and those stories on TV
Nothing compares to Marj's love for Joe, for that is love, that was truly meant to be
Joe and Marj have long since passed, but her passion and love, is emblazened in my mind
And I can only dream of love like Marjs' and only wish that I could find

I think of Marj and I think of Joe, being totally disabled, but utterly aware
Of him being shaved, his mouth being wiped, not able to rock, in his rocking chair
And it's hard to even fathom, a reality so profound
Hopefully when it's time, it's time, 'cause like that, I don't want to hang around


Monday, 3 December 2018


Of Times Past

Whatever happened to the values of yesteryear, a time of caring and consideration
For those times are not so far gone, an era of humanity, benevolence and adoration
Yes they seemed to be simpler times, but generally omnipresent, was mindfulness and trust
For the law and your neighbour's property and the respect for one's school teacher, definitely a must

Adolescent games like tag and hide 'n go seek and eavy ivy over
And everyone had a mutt of a dog, named “spot” or “rex” or “rover”
TV's were rare, but no despair, everyone's huddled, listening to the radio
On Saturday if you did your chores and cleaned the floors, you'd go to the movie show

An allowance of twenty-five cents and with that hence, the admission, popcorn and a drink
And on the way to the movie theater, ah the bakery aroma and of pies and pastries we'd think
Sunday morning was a time for prayer and then and there, off to our place of worship to pray
Grandma would be leading the pack and after mass, for ice-cream sundaes she'd pay

The egg lady visited on Saturday morn and she would leave a dozen or two
If there was no money to pay for the eggs today, then paying next week will do
The milkman delivered milk pretty-well daily, in the top of the bottle the cream was separated
In the winter-time we would scoop off the top, enjoying the treat the freezing temperature created

The breadman delivered bread twice per week, the enclosed wagon, meandered the neighbourhood
At times a surprise, but normally bread, doughnuts and pies, the aroma permeated the wagon's wood
There was no way to mask-it the aroma of bread in the basket, now time to feed the breadman's horse
The wagon needed no gas, the nag, hand-fed it some grass and my reward, a free doughnut of course

The iceman who seemed big as an ox, filled the top of the icebox, with a hundred pound block of ice
The meltwater would leak into a tray, we'd empty it every day and he'd deliver every week twice
A summertime treat we kids would chase him down the street, with his icepick he'd chip off a piece
With a big chunk in our hand we thought this was grand, gradually wetting our fronts by slow release

The coalman hunched over toting huge bags and clad in dirty rags, hands and face black as black
If money was short a bag we would sport, to pick up coal along the steam locomotive's track
With very little funds in one's stash and having to pay cash, for with no money, most did without
Things at times they were hard but in the backyard, it was fun, watching the vegetables sprout

No computers, no cell but no one did dwell on the fact, the party-line had one long and two shorts
Nosy neighbours listened in but that was no sin, suppose for them, they'd get their daily reports
No texts to edit and definitely no cards of credit, but everyone seemed to have what it took
And if you didn't have the cash to buy that table or couch, all you could do was look

Prom queens and sock hops for the teens and of course, all these functions chaperoned
Most people lived within their means and few mob scenes, respect and dignity home-grown
Now it's up to you to think it through, about the present times and how long will these times last?
What the heck muse for just a sec', people were more scrupulous and honourable, “in times past”