William H.A. Willbond MSM, CD

POETRY THOUGHTS

Thoughts are oft in Lim’rick rhyme and in patois verse –
Is my poetry getting worse?
A Canadian poet these many long years
during troubles, laughter, lust, love and tears

I’ve hugged many bottles of whiskey and rye
and smoked Players plain in the days of gone bye
Now I am old and my health is all spent.
My get up and go, it got up and went!

My Father came from Ireland when he was just thirteen
He met and wed my Mother; a beautiful McCaffrey Colleen
Hitler rattled his big guns on a far away shore
Dad then joined the Army to fight in the war

We farmed up the Gatineau at a place called Meech Lake
In the spring of the year maple syrup we’d make
Cutting logs on the ski slopes, the MacKenzie King Trail
Dad got a dollar a day from the Gatineau Mills sale

It’s now called camp fortune with an uphill ski lift
Dad’s new job at Eddy’s mill caused our family fortunes to shift
No more carrying arm loads of wood – no more maple sap
De light comes on from a switch on de wall – de water she comes from de tap!

I too joined the Army when I reached seventeen
Serving my Country and my young Sovereign Queen
When I completed my foot-slogger twenty
I moved to Saanichton, the land of plenty

I worked at the cop shop for twenty three years
I quit smoking cigs and I quit drinking beers
I now volunteer and work for Canada’s ICROSS
Working harder than ever – ‘cause I’m my own boss!