September 8, 2006

  • some poetry from Master

    This is a poem Master memorized when he was 8. ( he was somewhat precocious) The poem was published in the local newspaper in Medford, Oregon. circa l947.

    TOMORROW

    I'd rather have the memory of our brief yesterday
        Than all the warmth of knowing a lesser love today.

                  I'd rather think with longing of all the dreams we've shared
                          Than build new castles in the air with someone else who cared.

                             Oh dearest heart, we have so much, so much we both must miss
                             Those dreaming hours, the tender touch, the thrilling asking kiss.

                          But from deep roots of memory, God grant we both may borrow
                               The strength to trust that in good time we'll have a glad tomorrow.

                                                                                                                 Author Unknown

    This was the first summer Master was allowed to visit his divorced Mother. It was to be an eventful summer. Here are but a few things that happened to him:

    1. He got to meet his new Stepdad - a big whiskey drinkin, Irish/Cherokee. He scared my master.

    2. He got his heart and his nose broken by Linda Davis.(hence the memorized love poem)

    3. He got to meet Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in the middle of the night. They were part of a drunken hunting party that was attended by his folks and hosted by a millionaire named John Day.(his father had a town in Oregon named after him.) Master was very sleepy but still disappointed that his hero could be "snockered". Master says this  was while Roy and Dale were still married to other  people and hadn't found Jesus yet....

    4. United Airlines said Master was their youngest unaccompanied passenger in their history. His dad bought tickets for two, but got off the plane just before takeoff. After the initial shock to the airline personell they treated Master like a royal guest. It was great fun for him. The airlines later protested and Master had to return to Denver on the train.

    5. Master was "adopted" by the train detective on his way back to Denver. He got to see the same man several times over the years and the "train dick" always gave him a silver dollar on each trip.

    Master travelled back and forth between parents for ten years. His travel experiences alone would fill a couple of volumes. For instance, Master says that train travel in those days was a wonderful experience and good "Steinbeck" type material. Later Master's mother moved to Oklahoma and he began to travel by bus. But that as he says, is another story................................................................

Comments (6)

  • heart and nose broken at the tender age of 8 ... that's rough... and then to see Roy Rogers snockered .... rough stuff

  • Hi Irma! I just wanted to thank you for stopping by.

    I really like this poem. Sounds like Master has led an "interesting" life, to say the least.

  • My my my...your Master is a lucky man to have gone on so many train rides...I love the train...and yes back when...they were lots of fun. I loved eating in the dinning car as we went through downtown areas; it was surreal. And I loved the chill of the night air and the gentle rhythmic rocking of the train on the tracks while nestled in the big cushy seats with a blanket and pillow; the sounds of the whistle and the train stations…ahhhhhhh yes I love it all! And apparently so did your master.

  • Starr's memories of her pop, reminded me of the poem I memorized at 7, "Walking with Daddy." Coincidence that you posted about your master memorizing this poem.

  • Really nice poem. Lots of memories there he was quite the boy at eight. Judi

  • ryc - thank you

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