Uncle Elmer
Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:06 pm
I was reading in the garden yesterday afternoon - nice and cool, the spruce tree was very fragrant, the air clear, so I decided to pollute with a cigar :-) and as I was reading - one of my favorites, "Phantastes" by George MacDonald - a slip of paper fell out of the book. I picked it up and Lo! and behold it was a poem written by Ronda's Uncle Elmer. We had thought to have lost it.
Elmer was (he died 20 years ago) an old-style gentleman: think Colonel Sanders and you will have the look; they were almost twins, though not related. He was farm-raised in the early part of last century in upstate Michigan, and became a preacher at a small pentecostal church in Rapid City, where he served until quite aged.
Elmer had a quick sense of humor, and kind of a sharp tongue, he suffered no fools in his house, but was generous and warm-hearted and loved by a large circle of folks. He married Ronda and me in 1971.
Not one for over-much book-learnin', he had a good eye for detail and was a homey sort of poet. Here's the poem that fell out of my book Sunday: written in Elmer's hand -
In woodland, a socially eminent rabbit,
of dignity, virtue, and birth,
had chosen a suitable hole to inhabit -
a commodious burrow in earth.
When along came a woodchuck,
a regular ground Hog,
who wanted the place for his lair;
the rabbit, impressed by the 12 pound hog,
abruptly departed from there.
Not long thereafter a greedy old badger
cast his envious eye on the spot;
demanded the woodchuck immediately surrender,
who stoutly affirmed he would not.
A battle ensued in a terrible smuther;
It would frighten the hardiest soul -
the woodchuck and badger abolished each other -
the rabbit returned to his hole.
Now here is appended the mildest of morals,
accept it for what it is worth!
when the proud and the haughty are killed in their quarrels -
the meek shall inherit the earth.
Good one, Uncle Elmer :-)
Elmer was (he died 20 years ago) an old-style gentleman: think Colonel Sanders and you will have the look; they were almost twins, though not related. He was farm-raised in the early part of last century in upstate Michigan, and became a preacher at a small pentecostal church in Rapid City, where he served until quite aged.
Elmer had a quick sense of humor, and kind of a sharp tongue, he suffered no fools in his house, but was generous and warm-hearted and loved by a large circle of folks. He married Ronda and me in 1971.
Not one for over-much book-learnin', he had a good eye for detail and was a homey sort of poet. Here's the poem that fell out of my book Sunday: written in Elmer's hand -
In woodland, a socially eminent rabbit,
of dignity, virtue, and birth,
had chosen a suitable hole to inhabit -
a commodious burrow in earth.
When along came a woodchuck,
a regular ground Hog,
who wanted the place for his lair;
the rabbit, impressed by the 12 pound hog,
abruptly departed from there.
Not long thereafter a greedy old badger
cast his envious eye on the spot;
demanded the woodchuck immediately surrender,
who stoutly affirmed he would not.
A battle ensued in a terrible smuther;
It would frighten the hardiest soul -
the woodchuck and badger abolished each other -
the rabbit returned to his hole.
Now here is appended the mildest of morals,
accept it for what it is worth!
when the proud and the haughty are killed in their quarrels -
the meek shall inherit the earth.
Good one, Uncle Elmer :-)