Tom Cunningham Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

JACK ELLISON IS NINETY YEARS OLD TODAY

August the eleventh is a very special day
Because happy Jack Ellison is ninety today
A talented musician he used to play the banjo
With the Canadiana singers, many years ago

A ladies' man with a keen eye for the fillies
Makes us all laugh with his limerick sillies
But Jack he can write serious poetry too
He's a proud Canadian through and through. 

I hope that he has a lovely birthday today
And hope that everything goes his way
I've enjoyed banter with him over the years 
We've had plenty of laughs and shed a few tears. 

So, raise your glass and let's have a toast
To a fine gentleman and poet that's no idle boast
He has lots of friends on here, so I hope you'll join me
In letting Jack know he's a valued member of this community.


(Here's one of Jack's poems)

Once was a folk singer back in the sixties
It was surely my time to shine
Along with the great Peter Paul and Mary
They seemed like good friends of mine

A group of six, The Canadiana Folksingers
Appeared on Canadian TV
A couple of albums and a number of performances
Played banjo, sure looked geeky

Hi Jolly was our biggest success
Wherever we went they clamoured for it
Did I tell you Bruce played a one string bass
It added some charm I'll admit

Wife Linda was one of the two girl singers
Sure prettied up the group I'll say
Didn't make much money but that didn't matter
The joy hasn't left me to this day

Not everyone can say they were part of a group
Twas a very special time in my life
Wish I could go back and live it again
A great time for me and my wife

Jack Ellison.

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Karen Jones June 21, 2026 at 1:46 AM Lovely tribute poem and appreciate your sharing his poem as well! Tom Cunningham June 21, 2026 at 3:54 AM Thank you karen, sadly I haven't heard from Jack. Tom

Charles Messina August 22, 2025 at 11:34 AM Awesome tribute to Jack, Tom. I've got a quarter century to go before I reach that number, God willing I'll get there (lol) Hope all is well, my friend. Charlie Tom Cunningham August 22, 2025 at 11:46 AM Thank you Charlie, sadly I didn't hear from Jack. All good here, hope you are too. Greetings from Turkey, I'm travelling again. Tom

Gershon Wolf August 17, 2025 at 10:19 PM Wonderful tribute, Tom! Hey, 90 looks closer and closer each day for all of us, I fear. No, that's not right. I don't fear 90 at all. The late 70's are bad enough!! lol. Tom Cunningham August 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM Thank you very much Gershon, frightening how time passes so quickly, I'm on the right side of 70, but not for much longer lol. May need some advice. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Daniel Henry Rodgers August 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM Dear Tom, What a joyful tribute! I love how you’ve captured Jack in all his colors, the musician, the poet, the ladies’ man, and the friend we can laugh and cry with. Such a toast in verse, full of warmth, humor, and heartfelt admiration. Your closing lines feel part of the celebration, like we’re all raising a glass right alongside you. Amen! Happy Birthday Jack! Blessings, My Friend, Daniel Tom Cunningham August 15, 2025 at 10:33 PM Thank you very much Daniel, I've known Jack since I joined, he has a great sense of humour. Both Jan and I tried to contact him but sadly we had no response. I know he had a few health issues recently and was in hospital. I hope he's okay. Not long back from travelling again, I'm never at home lately lol. Hope you're keeping well. Have a lovely weekend. Tom

Valsa George August 14, 2025 at 5:43 AM Dear Tom, this tribute to a senior fellow poet on his ninetieth birthday sounds so sweet and warm. I am familiar with that name, but haven't read his poems. After reading your poem, i just searched for his poems. He has too many beautiful poems to his credit... indeed a prolific writer. Read a few of his poems and really liked the unwaning spirit in him. Really enjoyed a poem- Too Young to be Old. Certainly he deserves your tribute. Wish him a Happy Birthday. Tom Cunningham August 14, 2025 at 10:21 AM Thank you very much Valsa, have known Jack since I joined in 2017, he has a great sense of humour,, He's a talented musician too, I was lucky to find one of his songs on utube. I know he had some health issues and he hasn't been on soup for a while now. I tried to contact him but as yet haven't had a reply. I'm on my travels again. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Victor Buhagiar August 13, 2025 at 5:24 AM Must have missed this poem. Thought you're in Turkey. Quite a fine tribute, Tom. Tom Cunningham August 13, 2025 at 7:17 AM Thank you very much Victor, I'm in Somerset at the moment, travelling again Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Darlene De Beaulieu August 12, 2025 at 3:56 PM Hello Happy Jack, wishing hyou a happy birthday today. This is a great tribute to you my friend. Love, Darlene/ xxx-ooo Darlene De Beaulieu August 16, 2025 at 11:01 AM Hello Tom , Jack has not commented on the last poem i commented on either. I hope he is okay. So how are you? I hope all is well with you my friend. /Darlene/ Darlene De Beaulieu August 13, 2025 at 9:55 AM hello Tom, yes i am okay. It is hoit and humid here in Canada. We have had very little rain. some provinces have wild fires. I hope a good rainfall will out. How are you doing? I hope Jack reads this comments soon. Your friend, in Canada. /Darlene/ Tom Cunningham August 12, 2025 at 10:40 PM Thank you Darlene, Jack deserved it, he’s such a good soul, I was hoping he’d be able to look in but sadly I never heard from him. Hope you’re keeping ok. Tom

Paula Goldsmith August 11, 2025 at 2:17 PM What a lovely tribute you have here. "Happy 90th Birthday to Jack Ellison" with many more to come. Have a wonderful/blessed day writing away............ Tom Cunningham August 11, 2025 at 10:57 PM Thank you Paula, I was hoping Jack would look in I wrote this a while back because I knew his big 90 birthday was approaching.. I did email him but I never heard from him. I hope he had a nice day.. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

Lin Lane August 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM You're a great friend to many PS poets, Tom. You are so thoughtful to honor so many who deserve recognition. ;-) Tom Cunningham August 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM Thank you very much Lin, I was hoping Jack might look in, sadly I haven't heard from him. Tom

Anthony Bianco August 11, 2025 at 3:52 AM Hi Tom, what a beautiful dedication to Jack. I hope he has at least 90 more years to garnish the world with his spirit. Best wishes Anthony Tom Cunningham August 11, 2025 at 6:40 AM Thank you very much Anthony, I love his humour and he's given us a lot of laughs over the years, hope he looks in if he's able. Tom

Jan Allison August 11, 2025 at 3:09 AM What a lovely tribute to my poetry brother - we share similar names and a silly sense of humour! Happy birthday Jack :-) hugs Jan xx Tom Cunningham August 11, 2025 at 6:38 AM Thank you very much Jan, A while back he was in hospital and glad he bounced back, I've soupmailed and emailed him but haven't heard off him since July. Hope he looks in later if he's able. Tom

Anne-Lise Andresen August 11, 2025 at 2:32 AM - Hi Tom - What a great tribute to our mutual friend Jack - An old age but still so young ... he has delighted us for many years here on the soup :) - I don't know his music, but will check your link - Happy birthday Jack :) - Thanks, Tom :) - hugs Tom Cunningham August 11, 2025 at 6:35 AM Thank you very much Anne Lise, I hope he looks in later. Had lots of banter with Jack over the years. Tom