Elton Camp Poet Rhyme

The Wooden Plate

Version by Elton Camp

(I make no claim to this centuries-old tale.  It’s usually presented in the form of a short story, so I decided to cast it as a humor/pathos poem brought more up to date.)

Grandpa always made his own way
With reluctance, he moved in to stay

Night times, he was often awake
Daytimes, his old hands did shake

One day, he broke a fine china plate
The accident his daughter did hate

“Now my set’s no longer complete!
From china, you don’t deserve to eat.”

The old fellow dropped his head
But there was nothing to be said

But inwardly, he ruefully smiled
At how much she broke as a child

Silently, sadly he took the blame
Circumstances weren’t the same

That day, with her son in tow
To the store she angrily did go

“I want for gramps a wood plate,”
Sharply to her small son did state

“The old fool will find it hard to break.
I’ve had about as much as I can take.”

Son said, “I know what to do.
Instead of one, let’s buy two.”

“Now why should I do that!
You’re stupid as gramps, brat!”

She turned ashen as the child told
“You can eat off it when you’re old.”

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