William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD

A VISIT FROM POPPA
(James Mccaffrey: Farmer, Bushwhacker and Log Driver)

Yur Maa she’s gone out to milk Blossum de cow.
Git up outa dat bed Billy, git up right now,
Eat yur porridge an drink yur maple sugar tea.
Now here’s a wee pome limerick dat I’ll tell ta ye.

A coward dies a tousand times.
A brave man dies but once
Pay attention when ye are at school.
Don’t wear dat cap o’de dunce.

Wash yur face an comb yur hair.
Kneel an say yur mornin prayer.
Feed de chickens an yur auld dog.
Water de harses; feed an clean out de hog.

Yur Daa he’s gone up, upon dat mountain o’er dare.
He’s marking doze trees fer de ski runs dis year.
An wen de leevare brings dat deep, deep white snow.
Wid dat team of auld harses up dat mountain he’ll go.

Kant hooking de logs onto doze new double sleighs.
Haulin all to de lake up on de upper skid way.
Gee Poppa, ye knows a whole lotta good stuff.
Can I try your pipe? Can I have a wee puff?

Sure and begorah wee Billy dat ye can do.
Toobaccy is healthful sure it’s gud fur de flu.
‘Twill cure yur hed cold an take away de wee ache.
So wats all dat coffin an hackin ye now make?

Mom came in de door wid dat milk pail in hand
Saying, Billy no smoking until ye are a man.
Wen yur dun yur chores dare is a big treat.
Poppa will teach ye fishin for trout in de creek.

I raced around madly got everything all done;
Mucked out the cow byre – dats never no fun.
Led all three harses down to the deep creek to drink;
Shovelled stable manure to remove all dat stink.

Poppa pulled out a wee change purse.
Wid some small fish hooks located under de front flap.
Tied dem to a green string with a nail, at a one inch gap,
He took out an auld wine cork which he tied on after dat.

We cut long, slim willow poles out by de creek.
Tied on de green strings – boy dat was sure neat.
We dug manure worms where de dry and wet met.
De wine cork she’d bob an a brook trout we’d get.

Poppa left Monday to Dunrobin, to visit Uncle Jack.
It was a fun weekend and I wished he’d come back.
After chores I trekked 3 miles to school down in the village.
I walked along the creek and……… see “Old Black Robe Nun” (LINK)

©Copyright May 22, 2009 by William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD

Author’s Note: RIP Poppa – thanks for the fishing lessons