Monday, 21 May 2012
Christening the new blog with poetry!
Well....not sure exactly how this happened, but somehow I got the urge to blog. This all sprung from my desire to share something; and I realized, I didn't want a 20,000 character facebook post.
First, I feel I should explain the blog name. It's not that I'm some tai chi master or something, though that would be cool, and its the internet, so I could lie, and you might believe me.
Sorry...rambling. Anyways, long story short: I took a Chinese philosophy class and my prof told us in Chinese, tai chi means "supreme ultimate." I'll find it online and share, its basically how everything in the world "works." So The Supreme Ultimate of Carol Graham is really just a compilation of things that I love and that make me happy, and maybe they'll make you happy too.
Now, on to the reason this blog came about in the first place. Some background info: I've been tracing my family history over the last year or so, and while looking at old photo albums I found something really cool. My grandfather was stationed in Gander, Newfoundland, and in Christmas of 1941, all the men were given these leaflets. The leaflet is filled with stories and a poem or two, and ads for things to do and places to see in Gander. (Needless to say, its a really short book...)
I felt like sharing because I spent the last two school years living in Newfoundland. Never been to Gander, but I found this pretty entertaining, given my own experiences.
The leaflet is called "The Gander" funnily enough. The poem is called "Personal Lament" and the author isn't listed.
Personal Lament
Nothing but grouse and kick:
Nothing but spit and shine:
Sleeping between each "trick" --
And working the rest of the time.
Nothing but rocks and trees
How will a chap ever stand 'er:
For it's certainly hell to be --
Buried alive in Gander.
Snow, mud and trees of fir
Encircle us in rings:
I feel as though we were --
The only living things
Here in Gander.
And so when we're off duty,
All we do is sleep or think:
Unless we hit the Canteen --
And drown ourselves in drink.
We think of all we miss --
The fellows we used to know:
The dames we used to kiss:
And the coin we used to blow:
The places we used to haunt:
The racket and the rowL
The beers we didn't want
(We have to drink them now).
I'm thinking right out loud:
That sure is mighty bad:
(The snow is like a shroud) --
Perhaps I'm going mad.
Now! Wouldn't that be tough?
For this awful hush that hugs --
In Gander, is enough to
Make a man go "bugs."
So I guess I better cheer up,
And not be quite so glum
And recognize the fact that,
The worst is yet to come.
The Doc will watch your temperature:
The Padre watch your soul,
Teach you to pray and sin
Good Lord! It sounds so droll:
So, if some day we should go nuts
And can no longer stand 'er,
They've got a brand new Graveyard
Waiting for us,
Here in Gander!
Enough rambling for tonight. Have a good night!
First, I feel I should explain the blog name. It's not that I'm some tai chi master or something, though that would be cool, and its the internet, so I could lie, and you might believe me.
Sorry...rambling. Anyways, long story short: I took a Chinese philosophy class and my prof told us in Chinese, tai chi means "supreme ultimate." I'll find it online and share, its basically how everything in the world "works." So The Supreme Ultimate of Carol Graham is really just a compilation of things that I love and that make me happy, and maybe they'll make you happy too.
Now, on to the reason this blog came about in the first place. Some background info: I've been tracing my family history over the last year or so, and while looking at old photo albums I found something really cool. My grandfather was stationed in Gander, Newfoundland, and in Christmas of 1941, all the men were given these leaflets. The leaflet is filled with stories and a poem or two, and ads for things to do and places to see in Gander. (Needless to say, its a really short book...)
I felt like sharing because I spent the last two school years living in Newfoundland. Never been to Gander, but I found this pretty entertaining, given my own experiences.
The leaflet is called "The Gander" funnily enough. The poem is called "Personal Lament" and the author isn't listed.
Personal Lament
Nothing but grouse and kick:
Nothing but spit and shine:
Sleeping between each "trick" --
And working the rest of the time.
Nothing but rocks and trees
How will a chap ever stand 'er:
For it's certainly hell to be --
Buried alive in Gander.
Snow, mud and trees of fir
Encircle us in rings:
I feel as though we were --
The only living things
Here in Gander.
And so when we're off duty,
All we do is sleep or think:
Unless we hit the Canteen --
And drown ourselves in drink.
We think of all we miss --
The fellows we used to know:
The dames we used to kiss:
And the coin we used to blow:
The places we used to haunt:
The racket and the rowL
The beers we didn't want
(We have to drink them now).
I'm thinking right out loud:
That sure is mighty bad:
(The snow is like a shroud) --
Perhaps I'm going mad.
Now! Wouldn't that be tough?
For this awful hush that hugs --
In Gander, is enough to
Make a man go "bugs."
So I guess I better cheer up,
And not be quite so glum
And recognize the fact that,
The worst is yet to come.
The Doc will watch your temperature:
The Padre watch your soul,
Teach you to pray and sin
Good Lord! It sounds so droll:
So, if some day we should go nuts
And can no longer stand 'er,
They've got a brand new Graveyard
Waiting for us,
Here in Gander!
Enough rambling for tonight. Have a good night!
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