Dad wrote well over 300 poems and I thought I might share a few from time to time in this thread. Here's the first one he ever wrote--at age 11, in 1945. It was about his Mom, who died when he was only 5 years old. I hope this isn't a waste of internet space, and I don't intend to flood the board with a bunch of them, but just a few selected ones.
Mom was born 1-12-1913, died 2-27-1940, age 27.
This is the first poem I wrote, age 11, in 1945. No
words have been changed, only punctuation.
Sophia Jewel Simmons Cartwright - "MOM"
(TO MOM-MA)
Shortly after my birth, my Mother took sick,
I believe Fate was playing one of her awful tricks,
Yes my Mother caught the disease of T. B.,
She probably knew she'd never live,
To raise my brother and me!
She was in bed and out of bed,
For nigh on to two years,
And I believe every day She prayed,
I know She shed a lot of tears.
About two or three months before She died,
She got worse and stayed in bed,
And almost everyday I believe She cried,
For She knew She would soon be dead!
And then late one afternoon,
On a nice, sun shiny day,
My Mother kneeled beside her bed,
I know that She kneeled to pray,
Oh I wish I could've heard her prayer that day,
It's something I really hated to miss,
I don't know the words my Mother did say,
But I'm sure it went something like this....,
"Oh my dear Father in Heaven,
I know I am going away,
But before I go please listen,
To the things I have to say,
You know I have two boys living,
My only girl died one night,
I do wish You'd let me live Lord,
And raise my children right."
"But if it's your untold desire,
For me to pass away,
Please keep my boys alive Lord,
And learn them how to pray!"
"Oh Lord let them grow up,
To be gentlemen, good and fine,
I'll close my prayer by saying Thank You Lord,
And I'm ready to go, anytime."
Now this is the story I'm telling to You,
She left and went to His Grace,
Now that I've finished, I'll say this story is true,
And She died with a smile on her face!
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