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My friend Ed was eighty two last I knew,
and had a construction crew.
He was a great guy 
and his worldly crew treated him poorly,
Which affected me sorely.
He was an honest roofing and siding sub contractor
who worked with his crew, a positive factor.
Even tempered, humble, hard working and wise,
he labored and ignored the cracks of his guys.
Never complained or answered their slurs, 
just kept working and paying those ungrateful curs.
He was writing me up another estimate one day,
When he suddenly looked up at me to say…
“Bob, do you want to know how I get along with all men?”
I said “Absolutely Ed! Tell me your secret if you can..”
He said,

“It’s simple really; I just accept people the way they are.”

It’s been fourteen years since I heard those words,
And thought that over .. as he walked back to his car...
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Wesley Avatar
September 11, 2011 at 8:20 PM
It must have been galling to be that kind. Some are able and he sounds very special. Your words give tribut to a guy that knew how to live.
Ball Avatar
August 5, 2011 at 7:52 PM
He sounds like a wise and wonderful man. I'd like to have known him. Have you ever noticed that's the way a dog is too and look at how we treat them. God Bless, JB
Johnson Avatar
August 5, 2011 at 7:03 PM
Loved your little verse on my rail sitter, the fowls are goin chitter chitter (losing it here:) The old guy could handle constant critism but he had a handle ...internal wittism.. good poem point here...johnson
Culverhouse Avatar
August 2, 2011 at 7:04 PM
It can be the hardest thing to do at times. We have aour own set of morals or standards and we think others should be like us mostly. I have been guilty but do try to keep an open mind.
Horne Avatar
August 2, 2011 at 9:49 AM
Your friend was a very wise man, Bob
Dietrich Avatar
August 2, 2011 at 1:16 AM
yes, this is SO true and I always try to live by that too, Robert.
Mehta Avatar
August 1, 2011 at 9:27 PM
Nice dedication and tribute to your friend Ed, Robert
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