All That's Said and Done

On the evening in July '79
We had gone out that night to dine.

They dared me to write something about my life,
That was my son and wife.

The next day I started with pen in hand,
As if it was something grand.

My friends at the Center thought it good,
Naturally, as friends they would.

It was printed in October Colorado Old Times paper,
It made me do a few capers.

To Ms. St. Claire I need to thank,
And the money went in the bank.

(In a fund for my old age.)

I wrote three more they are holding a little late,
I hope it's not too long a wait.

So after all that's done and said,
Please print them while I'm living, don't wait till I'm dead.

*****

I found the following handwritten note to Allison St. Clair attached to a submission of the poem "For The Birds" (which was in the my March 16 th blog). I don't know what else he submitted with this note.

Dear Ms. St. Claire:

The poem Our Class I wrote for the teacher Pat Quigley who I think you met and the nine women who was in my Class that was 1-1/2 hours a week from October 2 to November 6. Six weeks. She gave me some very good advice on writing. I wrote a poem when I was in the 5 th grade. It was published in the Cincinnati Times Star. After school I didn't write again till 1979. You kindly printed my first short story "I Know I Got More Than My Share." I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Then I wrote four more short stories which I think you are holding for further use. The second poem I ever wrote was the one I sent you called "All Was Said and Done." "Our Class" was my third try and I am sending you a couple of other ones to see if you can use any of them. Thanking you again for all kindness shown me.

Yours truly, Bob White, Sr.

So the above was Dad's second poem (I assume his first was the one he wrote in 5 th grade), submitted to Colorado Old Times and held by them for over two year. It was finally printed on page 6 in their February 1, 1982 newspaper, ironically almost two months after Dad died. At that time my mother notified the Colorado Old Times of Dad's passing so no more of his works that they might still be holding would be published.