Sentimetal Sunday: My Grandpa's Poem

In my stack of stuff, I have this little treasure. It is a poem written by my Grandfather (Nov. 18, 1977). Now I never imagined that my grandfather wrote poetry, but my uncle says that he did many surprising things like write this poem. So knowing he held this same paper and wrote these words brings me closer to him. When I read it, I can picture my grandpa taking my 9 year old son's hand, who he never had a chance to meet, and telling him stories about life. Here is the poem:

To a Little Boy from an Old Man

At a friends home I happen to see
A photo of a little boy, who is unknown to me
I studied the picture, then I could see
The beautiful features of the boy, who is unknown to me

My mind wandered back, I wished to be
The age of this boy, who is unknown to me
Mother Nature said, No, that is not for thee

I asked the little boy, let me take your hand
Come along with me. I will show you our great land
We will travel far, we will sit by the sea

As we journey on, I will tell you about life
And what is to be
The hardships, the pleasures, the work and the strife
All this will be part of your life

Be honest, be strong above all be a man
Then I am sure, you will see
What a wonderful life this can be.

All my love to the little boy
Who is unknown to me

Clarence Silk
The Old Man

Sentimental Sunday - Evelyn

Pearl Evelyn Jensen

...is the name of the beautiful young lady featured on this blog.  She is my grandmother. She is the best grandmother you can imagine. She...

...has a great sense of humor
...loves candy (especially peanut M&Ms)
...cusses (no other grandmother I know would dare cuss)
...has the biggest dimples when she smiles (lucky for me I inherited this trait)
...wraps restaurant leftovers in a napkin and stuffs them in her purse despite being given a to-go box
...stores kleenex in the wrist of her long sleeve shirts or sweaters just in case
...wears a size 4 shoe
...lived in Chicago in the 20's
...loves to watch Soul Train because she "loves the way those kids move"
...did not marry until she was in her mid-thirties

Lucile, Ostense, Evelyn, and Andrew Jensen

...misses her sister, Lucile, very much
...almost died giving birth to identical twins, my father and uncle
...worked for the candymaker Mars (she would bring home pockets filled with candy to share with her mom)
...loves to listen to talk radio (me too!)
...bites her fingernails when she worries
...loves me!

Evelyn passed away in 1987 - the very day, the very minute I drove out my driveway to go to Converse College for my freshman year...my mom says it was her way of making sure I made it to school.  I was her only grandchild so I guess it is safe for me to say I was her favorite.  She lived with me and my parents for ten years after my grandfather passed away.  I would not trade those years for anything.

Grandpa, Grandma, Dad & me

I miss you grandma!