Beryl Edmonds Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Poem written - 2nd May 2026

A tribute to my late Father-in-law

 

A Life in a Casket

I have a casket that tells tales of war
Letters wrote by my late father-in-law
That he sent home to his wife and young son
Those he had missed since the horrors begun.

He was a poet, a pastime we shared
I put his poems into a book, him unaware
It was a gift for his birthday, ninety three
He opened it, loved it, deeply moved was he.

He said it was his best present ever
Those words are etched on my heart forever
It was a pleasure to do and to gift
The time it took was truly worth it.

Now I hold the book since he sadly passed
A treasure of remembrance of the past
An insight into a soldier’s thoughts
When he was living through conflicts of war.

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Frank Sheehan May 4, 2026 at 2:12 PM Wonderful write and tribute. It reveals a very touching story. Thanks for posting. Enjoyed. Beryl Edmonds May 6, 2026 at 12:15 PM Thank you Frank, my shoebox holds the story and poems my father-in-law wrote. When he lost his wife he continued to write poetry for her. After his eyesight failed I wrote poems for him and would read them out to him, he loved them… Beryl

Valsa George May 4, 2026 at 4:21 AM Beryl, this is a lovely memory of your late father in law who too was a poet. Naturally the nonagenarian enjoyed your gift of poems. What else could be given to such an aged person. If this is a contest entry, please note that you are supposed to write only eight lines. Beryl Edmonds May 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM Dear Valsa, thank you for reading and pointing out that contest was for eight lines only, I had entered the contest, have now removed it… Beryl

Victor Buhagiar May 4, 2026 at 1:37 AM Great tribute to your father-in0law. May his book be read by many. Blessings. Beryl Edmonds May 4, 2026 at 2:52 PM Thank you Victor, the two books I did for him are a personal thing, therefore they won’t be read by many. Sadly there’s no one that comes after us, unfortunately. So the two books I did will probably disappear when we do. Unless of course someone cares enough to keep them and read them, who knows.. Beryl

sara Etgen-Baker May 3, 2026 at 5:17 PM what touching words--so poignant and beautifully crafted. Applause! Have to fav this one! wishing you well! hugs, Sara Beryl Edmonds May 3, 2026 at 5:31 PM Thank you so much Sara for your comment and fave, I’m simply delighted.. Hugs and good wishes returned… Beryl

Kevin M Davis May 3, 2026 at 3:26 PM Beryl. I reread this beautiful poem. I too went to war in 1970. Too young to see those things, but went without a regret. It is now part of me, everything I know and feel. Your father-in-law had much to come home to and I am sure he appreciated your book of his poems. I would. Beryl Edmonds May 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM Thank you Kevin, yes he did appreciate the book, he took it with him everywhere to show it off. On the cover I put a photo of him and the wife, he in his army uniform. Sadly my mother- in- law had already passed on, so she never had the chance to see or read the poems in the book… Beryl

Deb M May 3, 2026 at 7:56 AM Beryl....you are a real "heart writer" and this poem touched my heart....what a very special gift given by you to him ...precious! Debx Beryl Edmonds May 3, 2026 at 2:56 PM Thank you Deb, it was sheer joy to see his face light up when he saw the book. It was done with my eldest sister’s help, was illustrated too… Beryl

Bj Legros Kelley May 2, 2026 at 10:52 PM What a precious gift Beryl, for him and now for you. This is so very touching <3 Beryl Edmonds May 3, 2026 at 1:43 AM Thank you Bj, I was so happy with my father-in-law’s response to the gift of his book of poetry. I did another book for him as he’d written so many poems during his lifetime… Beryl