The Sergeant Major

I'll always remember Granpa Shreeves
No collar,braces and rolled up sleeves,
Leather buckled trouser belt;
Number forty-six with Gran he dwelt.

A curled up moustache,
His manner stiff and harsh;
Horse artillery in a younger day
A shilling a day his rate of pay.

His hens roamed at the end of the patch
Each day free to root and scratch;
Collecting eggs from his homemade coop
His aging back acquired a stoop.

Fresh,brown and range free
Daily for breakfast or tea;
He killed a chicken as a special treat,
Plucking now a forgotten feat.

A waist-coated old stager
Known to all as the Sargeant Major;
Old fashioned,a bit of  a tartar-
Made my Gran a domestic martyr.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2007



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Date: 12/9/2019 2:41:00 PM
enjoyed reading , a descriptive write of family wel done. hugs eve
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Brian Strand
Date: 12/9/2019 4:33:00 PM
Thanks Eve,seasons greetings.
Date: 12/9/2019 12:43:00 PM
Wonderful nostalgia in this delightful poem Brian. Happy holidays. xxoo
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Brian Strand
Date: 12/9/2019 1:00:00 PM
Christmas blessings Connie,thanks
Date: 12/9/2019 11:35:00 AM
Brian, I loved this poem, it reminded so much of my own Grandpa, just wonderful writing and an inspiration.
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Brian Strand
Date: 12/9/2019 12:15:00 PM
Thanks Constance memories are made of this.
Date: 12/9/2019 9:30:00 AM
What a character, Brian. You really brought him to life and the egg collecting reminded me of my own Grandparents. So true about the plucking of feathers but I'm glad that they come ready prepared as I'm not sure I'd have coped well in that regard! An enjoyable poem.
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Brian Strand
Date: 12/9/2019 9:52:00 AM
Cheers Wendy
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