Results for ‘POEMS’
When the pioneers came to Canada many years ago
The hardships they endured we will never know
Their families were in the old country many miles away
And they were thought of as they toiled each lonely day
There were no roads tv or cars there around
They carried loads on their backs before sitting down
He walked the trail until he found his stakes
So there his house he knew he could make
With an axe and saw he cleared the land
Yes it was all forest but we don’t understand
The thick trees didn’t let the sun shine through
So did he think cutting these trees I must do
He chopped the trees which fell to the ground
Then soon he had a clearing there around
They squatted on the land until up to government standards
Then for the deed they went after working so long
In the spring around the stumps they planted seeds
So in the winter they had food to supply their needs
At first he made a cabin with only one room
\Which was done quickly as winter was coming soon
Each day from early morning until bedtime at night
Hard work they done to get things set up right
Things they wore or ate was all homemade
As there was no time to sit in the shade
The neighbours were few and many miles away
So the fire was kept going even on a hot day
The clothes were washed in a tub and hung on a tree
Where they would dry there in a little breeze
God was in their thoughts from morning until night
So why don’t we do the same only following what’s right
How many of us could live like this now days
But if a depression comes we will learn these ways
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ontario
[Welland Tribune March 26, 1940]
Welcome, red-breasted harbinger of spring
With stately poise you calmly view the skies
And glance again on well-remembered scenes
Familiar to your migratory eyes
No foliage impedes your upward flight
As from bare boughs is heard your welcome note;
And passerby will smile, well pleased to know,
Your presence winter’s absence will denote.
Your liquid notes. Heard early in the morn,
Salutes the first faint gleam of sunshine’s rays
Which through the passing clouds is dimly seen
Till gathered strength of sun disperses haze.
With dignity you gaze on all around,
Your scarlet breast a note of color lends
To drab and sodden grounds. With pleasure now
We welcome spring’s advent, as winter ends.
William McClure
It’s the last month yes December is here
And in a few days we will celebrate a new year
This month will go by like all the rest
Yes all the ones before that were the best
Snowmobiles will be out this winter once again
May no accidents happen and no one suffer pain
The wild geese are gone and will be back in May
And boats and summer things are now put away
Those who got a deer may they enjoy the meat
I hope they give thanks as they sit down to eat
A team was harnessed and hooked up to the sleigh
So folks got on for a ride on the winters day
All the trees were bare with snow all around
While the house was cozy as the moon shone down
Ride program is in effect to catch impaired drivers
I say change it to side and we’ll have more survivors
Christmas is coming and children are full of joy
Hoping they will get some more new toys
There were many presents there under the tree
But if times get hard not one there will be
Children will skate and play in the snow
As we done the same back many years ago
There isn’t much sun in December it will be back soon
Yes there will be more of it before we hit June
Others will ice fish if there is enough on the lake
And as they go home may the limit is all they take
Since its cooler out we’ll all spend more time indoors
So isn’t it a good time to do those put off chores
Christmas is the time we have a big celebration
But isn’t it Christ’s birthday were to celebrate in our nation
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
[PHOTO: Jesse Morningstar Timber Mill circa 1940]
In Hamblyns field where the brush does grow
There used to be lumber piles yes row upon row
The trees were cut in the bush up on the hill
Then cut into logs and hauled down to the mill
Horses brought the sleighs along an icy road
Where hills were sanded to stop a runaway load
In the bush there wasn’t any chainsaw sound
Only axes chopping and trees as they hit the ground
The camp the men stayed in was full of lice
And smells of wet dirty clothes wouldn’t be nice
Yes at 4 a.m. they arose from their bed
They had breakfast of salt pork beans tea and bread
They started in the bush long before daylight
And finished in the dark later that night
There at the mill they worked hard all day
Only back then they got very little pay
The mill saw was kept sharp to get through the wood
As two men cutting boards wouldn’t if they could
Some logs they cut were maple beech birch and oak
But working in the mill or the bush it was no joke
The lumber was piled up high yes all by hand
And it sure would have been not in that field of sand
Some of the lumber was taken and put in a boxcar
To be taken by train to places near and far
Those folks maybe felt times will be better somehow
Yes times are better nowadays and they’re all gone now
Back then to the mill did a short cut someone take
As there is a team and a sleigh load of logs in Mullet Lake
Good stories today that area could tell if it could talk
But those stories to people today would really shock
Bessemer village the mill and the train are gone too
Logs are hauled away by trucks ruining the roads they do
There is very little there now like in days of yore
Only a cottage or two but no big village as there was before
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ontario
The old school house sat at the top of the hill
Where each day with knowledge our heads were filled
If you couldn’t learn the teacher wondered why
So you got the strap even if it made you cry
You had to do your homework not talk or shout
Then bravely you faced the world when you went out
Your schooling only went to grade seven or eight
So any job you were offered it you did take
Yes the teachers then didn’t fool around
And in the graduating class not a criminal was found
The old general store was over a little ways
Where the proprietor always spent many long days
He was open from early morning until late at night
When men sat and talked about things not right
There was candy for the children and a cooler with pop
And for things you needed it was there you did shop
He had brooms wash tubs and saws for sale
In the winter the stove was lit and never did fail
Ladies could buy cloth and there were dishes too
Also kerosene boots and clothing for me and you
The garage was close by where you bought your gas
And the owner always waved when you went past
He also changed the tires and greased your car
Since he knew it would be needed if you went very far
Tune ups were done also to keep the car running right
So you wouldn’t be stranded during the day or night
Back then the tires would often go flat
But without a tube now there is a lot less of that
The church was over further where on Sunday morn
You were told to be in Heaven you had to be reborn
He wasn’t shy about the word as he was commanded to do
And said turn to Him now or in Heaven there’ll be only a few
The cemetery was nearby where the older folks lay
Yes they all lived closer to Him back in their day
But most aren’t concerned as Sunday comes around
Doesn’t the Bible say in church we’re to be found
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
There are green fields in Virginia here its green hills
Which give the city folk a really big thrill
People can walk in the bush looking at the trees
But be careful don’t trip and scrape your knees
The roads are winding with many different scenes
Yes its better here than any place we’ve been
All around Bancroft is an area that has it all
From a cool spring to colored leaves in the fall
The springtime is nice with the melting of the snow
So heavy clothes aren’t needed wherever you go
As the snow melts we see crocus start to bloom
And the nice weather brings other flowers soon
On some spring days the weather is very hot
But on other ones most say it sure is not
When the weather warms up more cars there are
Even though most of them never go very far
The farmers in the spring are out planting crops
They keep going until done then they can stop
Houses are kept better now than years ago
As money was scarce then this we all know
The northern part of our county is rugged as can be
While the southern is more level that we all see
There is logging and other jobs but a lot of poverty
Since this is my hometown its the only place for me
The folks are friendly and some prices may be high
So when at the store what I need is all that I buy
We may look outside and say it looks like a nice day
But by noon the weather has went the other way
There is a haze looking like a fog but its no joke
It comes from a distant forest fires great big smoke
The winters may be cold but not like years ago
As I recall seeing -40c for two weeks or so.
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
June has come the best month of the year
So may the nice weather fill us with cheer
We don’t need a winter coat or heavy boots
And children can be outside without a snowsuit
Its nice to be outside even for a few hours
Enjoying the nice weather while tending the flowers
Wood is cut split and piled up to dry
By the sun away up there in the sky
Some have a garden and its planted we know
So now we just wait for rain to make it grow
In the garden there are vegetables galore
Carrot peas potatoes and much much more
Just watch the sun doesn’t burn your skin
And from 10 am-2pm it’s best to stay in
As the flowers bloom to our face comes a smile
Since we know they’ll be there for a little while
We can take a drive down the road in the car
But with expensive gas we won’t be able to go far
And we can visit an old village to learn of yester year
But how would people be if those times return here
In families with the schools and the old general store
The old schools are gone but the stores are around a little more
Through the bush we can go on a little hike
Or maybe fishing or swimming or ride a bike
The grass is cut often as it grows real quick
As its hard to cut if we let it get too thick
We can visit others even if the weather turns bad
Then return home safely and happy not feeling sad
So enjoy the good weather it won’t be here long
Winter is getting closer and summer will be gone
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
The bait and tackle shop sat by the lake
Where folks came to see how many fish they’d take
Some of the fish were Pickerel Bass and Trout
So may everyone only take their limit out
Before the shop is open some people came
Even though it was cloudy and looked like rain
There were canoes wooden and aluminum boats
Will anyone because of their haul try to boast
Early in the morning is the best time to fish
But they were better when cooked in a dish
You went to fish in a car or a pickup truck
But some fished all day without any luck.
Children walked there to take a dip in the lake
As on a hot day a swim sure felt great
The fishing tackle didn’t cost much unlike today
And as bait was live little you also did pay
At night a bonfire was there on the shore
Before the folks left to return later once more
No licence was needed to enjoy the pastime
But today you need one so you won’t get a fine
Some used a stick with a line and a hook
To see if they’d get a fish for supper to cook
Years ago people walked miles to fish through the ice
Then returned at night with a catch so nice
It’s hardly worth the bother to go and fish today
As all fish have mercury and other chemicals I say
I’ve never fished much as I’d rather go for a swim
Instead of hoping for a fish the water was good to be in.
Winston Ralph – Bancroft, ON
The lamp on the table was lit every night
So folks could see to get around in the fading light
The stove was full of wood to keep the house nice
As no one wished for the water pail to be solid ice
Father sat down with a paper in his big chair
To read the news and happenings around there
And mother sat in her rocker and knitted away
It was the only time she could sit every day
The children done homework there at the table
And they done it all even if they weren’t able
All chores the children had were done before dark
Getting wood water and for kindling a little bark
The dog slept by the stove as all day it was outside
And felt like getting warm there by the stove fireside
Outside the cat wandered and looked around
To see if a mouse or squirrel could be found
The cattle were fed and bedded in the barn
Where they knew there wouldn’t be any harm
All the harvest was put away it was well into the fall
So they had lots of food if someone did call
There were pickles, berries and jams galore
And others would say you have more here than a store
The store was four miles away and there was no car
Food was prepared for winter as the store was too far
Next morning father said goodbye as he left to cut wood
Cutting wood kept us fit others should do it if they could
There he sat on a tree while he ate his lunch
And remarked that morning he had cut a big bunch
Coming home at night he stamped his feet at the door
The said “Lord willing” tomorrow I’ll cut a little more.
Winston E. Ralph
Bancroft, Ont.
The old milk house isn’t used anymore
As it sits near the barn with a lock on the door
The cows aren’t milked by hand like years ago
Since today were told to hurry that we all know
Today milking by hand would be a big chore
The reason little of it is done now anymore
The separator is silent sitting there covered in dust
It should be in a museum and folks say it must
Yes there in the museum are things from long ago
But some folks say what is it as I don’t know
We older folks know as we used them in the past
And our memories of earlier times will always last
Today machines do the work and people get the pay
Large salaries for little work is ruining us I’ll say
Years ago all farm work was done by hand
Yes the older folks worked hard on their land
No one caused trouble they were tired from toil
Cutting wood harvesting and tilling the soil
There was no need for doctors like there is today
As folks were healthy from working all day
We’re told things are speeding up how untrue
In the stores buttons are pressed holding up me and you
Years ago gas stations everywhere could be found
Now with more cars the stations are few around
People aren’t punished for wrong just get a good time
And the taxpayer pays but no one does whine.
Winston Ralph
Bancroft, ON
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