General Chat

Thanks, all, for trying for "Does anyone know the genealogy poem about regretting not having listened to the mother's stories of relatives as mom has now died and those stories can't be recalled, or something to that effect? Thanks" but so far no one has gotten it : (

Here's a genealogy poem I like --
Beatitudes Of A Family Genealogist

Blessed are the great-grandmothers, who hoarded newspaper clippings and old letters,
For they telll the story of their time.
Blessed are all grandfathers who filed every legal document,
For this provides proof.
Blessed are grandmothers who preserved family Bibles and diaries,
For this is our heritage.
Blessed are fathers who elect officials that answer letters of inquiry,
For--some--they are the only link to the past.
Blessed are mothers who relate family traditions and legends to the family,
For one of her children will surely remember.
Blessed are the relatives who fill in family sheets with extra data,
For them we owe the family history.
Blessed is any family whose members strive for the preservation of records,
For theirs is a labor of love.
Blessed are the children who will never say,
"Grandma, you have told that old story twice today."

oh me, the following poem is Very Much Like the one I'm looking for,but not quite it as the one I'm looking for has the daughter wishing she'd listened while at her mother's knee; same idea but a different overall feeling. picky, picky, picky, I know.

If I'd only listened
To Mama while at her knee,
As she talked and told old-time stories
Of things and people as they used to be.

If I'd only listened;
But I thought the age-old stories were a bore.
All those names, dates, and tales,
Some how, I managed to ignore.

If I'd only listened
As Mama told how things were then;
Or had her to re-tell
The stories and tales again and again.

If I'd only listened,
Questioned, and asked her
About her Grandpap, Granny, and others
As to When? What? and Where?

If I'd only listened;
Her wealth of information
I would now treasure
As I'd have abundant family documentation.

If I'd only listened to Mama;
But it's now too late!
So, I'll just record on paper the facts
I know and to the Historic Society donate.

Author: Edith Bastin

Jeremiawasabulldog, I am going to shorten this name, I am exhausted after I have written it...only joking!

Really enjoyed reading your entries, especially the first one because when my mother died I found many records, notes etc which hsve helped me so much. These included one which even now brings tears to my eyes so I may add it as a story rather than trying to write poetry.
I have many very old original marriage and birth certs,

I may print or copy the second one and give to my children! They think I spend too much time looking for the deceased! !

I shall brouse through my sayings book today to see if I can be tempted to post one or two

Take care everyone

Nearly forgot to say congratulations on reading page 17 for us. I wonder if we will ever get to page 20 ?

08.45hrs Spain
,

Sorry, that should read reaching page 17, not reading page 17. Must go and have a coffee!

liked this one

Strangers in the Box

Come, look with me inside this drawer,
In this box I've often seen
All the pictures, black and white,
Faces proud,still serene.
I wish I knew the people,
These strangers in the box,
Their names and all their memories
Are lost among my socks.
I wonder what their lives were like,
How did they spend their days ?
What about their special times ?
I'll never know their ways.
If only someone had taken their time
To tell who,what,where, or when,
Those faces of my heritage
Would come to life again.
Could this become the fate
Of the pictures we take today ?
The faces and the memories
Someday to be passed away ?
Make time to save your stories,
Seize the opportunity when it knocks,
Or someday you and yours could be
The strangers in the box

Anon

I bet we all know of a box like this !!!

I really like this and may print it of to go on the outer page of My "History and Life", book which I am putting together.

I haven't had time to day to look on here as have been doing someinvestigation on Ancestry

18.28 hrs Spain

Strangers in the Box is © 1997 by Pamela A. Harazim. To me, that poem says it all regarding each of us writing our own story and the stories and memories we have of those who have passed on. And perhaps those around us who refuse to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. A Fantastic Poem!

Great poem Greenfingers

Yes it is I can't remember half the names on my school photos and wish I had written them on the back !

8.50 am Norfolk UK

Green fingers ,have you tried Friends reunited.I did a couple of years ago and found several friends from school,it was/is great fun?

I am somewhat surprised that the view on here fas changed.down the right hand side is a box attached to each entry and it shows when the person sending the message because member and how many posts they have made.

There are also at the bottom of the page showing emotions.......When did this start,I do not recall seeing it before

13.16hrs Spain

Jeramiahbulldog, thank you for such a delightful reply to Greenfingers,I am looking forward to your next poem or saying.

Well, I'll share a poem now that I really should wait a bit to share.... We live on an island and our house is for sale. When it sells, we will be living 3 hours from the ocean; a sad, sad location for me. So this dear poem by John Masefield - a favorite from my youth is already on my mind --

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

Oh, me, my eyes are misting over ...

I love that poem too Miah, always reminds me of lovely family holidays.

Here are two Summer sayings

James Dent said A perfect Summers day, is the sun shining, the breeze blowing , the birds singing and the lawn mower broken !

Anton Chekov said People don't notice whether it is Spring or Summer when they're happy

How true both of these are !

OH Mia, I would be devasted if I could not live either by the sea or a vast expanse of water. Where are you moving to?
I think I fell in love with poetry because of this poem, surley no-one could ever dislike this.

I have been askled to find a poem about old age for a friend whoo is doing a special course for her work. Now she has the Purple hat one so any suggestions would be welcome.
as from next Ttuesday afternoon I will not be at home, going to Army son in Winchester for his church blessing of marriage..We will be away for about 8 days so please keep this thread "Live"

Many thanks

13.14 hrs Spain

Another poem about growing old

There is no person lonelier,
Than he who lies in bed,
And must depend on others,
To be comfortable and fed,
Who never has a visitor,
To talk to him and smile,
And make the life he has to live,
A little more worthwhile.

He does not ask for magazines,
For candy, fruit, and such,
But just a friendly visit and
The words that mean so much.

He wants to see the sun come out,
In place of all the rain,
And know that someone cares about,
His trouble and his pain.
And surely somewhere out of all
The moments made for play
There must be time to call on him,
And say hello today.

I am going to send this to a former colleague who is going to do some new training to improve her staus, and working experience. I hope you like this as well

14.19hrs Spain

:-)

Mau, your poem 'Forever' bought tears to my eyes, my mother died in 1986 and I still, after all these years, miss her companionship, laughter and wisdom. I now have three beautiful grandchildren who are gorgeous, but even they don't fill that particular gap. Spanish Eyes, I worked with elderly people for many years so your poem hit a particular nerve as all too often it is very true that old people spend a lot of time on their own, as familes are 'Too Busy' or 'Too Far Away' to visit. Very Sad!

I expect you all know this one, but I'll post it anyway!!

THE DONKEY by G.K Chesterton.

When fishes flew and forests walked
And figs grew upon thorn,
Some moment when the moon was blood
Then surely was I born;

With monstrous head and sickening cry
and ears like errant wings,
The devils walking parody
On all four footed things.

The tattered outlaw of the earth,
of ancient crooked will;
Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb,
I keep my secret still.

Fools! For I also had my hour;
One far fierce hour and sweet:
There was a shout about my ears
And palms before my feet.

THREE OLD RHYMES


THE WISH

Oh that I were where I would be!
Then should I be where I am not;
But where I am, There I must be,
And where I would be I can not.





IF

If all the world was apple-pie
And all the sea was ink,
And all the trees were bread and cheese,
What should we do for drink ?
It's enough to make an old man
Scratch his head and think.





A CANDLE BURNING

Little Nan Etticoat
In a white petticoat
And a Red Nose
The Longer she stands
The shorter she grows

Here are two quotes


The Human mind
is like an umbrella
It functions best when open.


A German architec.


2nd one

God gives us the ingredients
for our daily bread
But he expects us to do the baking.


an american writer.

Rita

A Life with love is like a year without summer

Swedish Proverb

In winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle light
In summer quite the other way
I have too go to bed by day

I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree
Or hear the grown up peoples feet
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you
When all the skiy is clear and blue
When I should like so much to play
Not have to go to bed by day?

R.L.Stevenson

How right as a child you always feel like this

Dorothy Parker also said

Summer makes me drowsy, Autumn makes me sing, Winters pretty lousy, but how I hate spring !