8 AM AT THE EXPERIMENTAL FARM SCOTT
There stands our foreman jolly John
I see a Wilkie trip is on
Our requistions in his hand
He allots equipment to till the land

 

Lawrence, the fifty-four Chev will do
The Minnie and disker's for your crew
With Gabe, Bob Carr, and this new man here
Your problems will soon all disappear

 

Bud you have the Massey to mow
Your plots to clean-up before you sow
John to run the Allis and rake
I know neat windrows he will make

 

Joe Senger, the half ton Ford's for you
To stake your plots you'll need help too
With Vince and Ed to place them straight
They'll show the treatment and the rate

 

Mike Gerein, you have Ted and Joe
With the soils truck to Loon you'll go
If it's stony don't fet distraught
Or damage the tubes we just bought

 

Roy needs help in the flower border
Flowers to plant and keep in order
When in bloom they will bring great pleasure
To all who pass it will be a treasure

 

The Plymouth wagon's for Andy and Phil
They'll drive to Loon the land to till
Sub-stations keep them on the road
Their trailer takes the overload

 

Hec is all finished his seeding through
His other work he'll now persue
When rows are visible on the ground
The stakes look neat when placed around

 

Al the new Chev truck you'll take
To Stoon and back the dust you'll shake
If you can make it back by one
Sampling for you has just begun

 

Chas Franke is our man in the shop
From morn til night he's on the hop
At repairing he sure is a whiz
The boys all say that's what he is

 

Now everyone has men and tools
A good job done is one of our rules
I'll go do the weather awhile
And then sit back and smile, and smile

 

Being a foreman you try to please
Keep everyone happy and at ease
Sometimes perhaps you may find time
To scribble a ditty and try for a rhyme

 

If these words help to cheer up your day
I am sure that we all will say
"Life at this station if lots of fun
But thank goodness now - the day is done"

 

BIRTHDAYS
Today I've reached that magic age
That long for, sought for, wonderous stage
For I'll now be as smart's a sage
I've turned twenty-one

 

When I was small they called me cute
Whenever I wore my sailor suit
But I wished I could substitute
It for twenty-one

 

I'd now be free to roam and go
Where'er I pleased for I just know
That magic age I'll not outgrow
More than twenty-one

 

Now that I'm old enough to drink
We lift our glasses and we clink
Spirits that puts us in the pink
Yea! for twenty-one

(years later)

Now that I've long since past that time
And I'm no longer in my prime
I care no more to hear bells chime
Out for twenty-one

(many years later)

Today I'm well along in years
That magic age again it nears
But now one of my greatest fears
Is ONE-TWENTY-ONE

 

THE ALASKA HIGHWAY
Let's drive the Alaska Highway
From mile zero at Dawson Creek
Through Fort St. John then Wonowon
Pink Mountain and Sikanni Chief
 

Mason Creek, Trutch, Prophet River
There's Muskwa and Fort Nelson too
Steamboat, Summit Lake, Toad River
Some places are hard to get through

 

There's Muncho Lake a lovely place
If you wish to leisure a while
Liard River's hot springs
So refreshing after many miles
 

Next Coal River and Fireside
Then drive on to Lower Post
And you'll soon be in the Yukon
Which is the country I like most

 

At Watson Lake a pretty place
Where the signposts you will see
Upper Liard, Rancheria
Swift River and Morley
 

Next Teslin then Johnsons Crossing
And you'll soon be at McClintock
Where it's not very far to Whitehorse
Of which there is plenty to talk

 

There's Champagne Canyon and Haines Junction
At Kluane we'll spend a day
Where you'll see Yukons largest lake
Or perhaps at Destruction Bay
 

Burwash Landing to Beaver Creek
Is a very long way to walk
But when you're at Tetlin Junction
It's not very far to Tok

 

Tanacross and Dot Lake are towns
That we pass along the way
At Delta Junction or Big Delta
You can rest and camp a day
 

On to North Pole then to Fairbanks
The end of the road I'm told
Once you have travelled this highway
On the country you will be sold

 

You've travelled through God's creation
That is rugged, scenic and old
Seen the splendor of their sunsets
When the mountains are tipped with gold
 

We've paused by their sparking rivers
And we've fished in their lakes all day
I'd like to live here forever
And I know that I will someday

 

HOLIDAYS
Our home is in an uproar
As we all rush here and there
Holidays start tomorrow
Excitement is in the air
 

The car is washed and polished
The trailer gleams in the sun
Last night I dreamt of camping
Where we all had heaps of fun

 

Driving along the highway
All the sights we may see
Farmers are cultivating
Their fields to keep weed-free
 

As we approach the border
I know it wont be long
Until we reach the game preserve
Where wild animals throng

 

Here you will see the sheep and goats
Climbing on the mountain side
We all marvel at their great skill
As we continue our ride
 

Here you will see the black bear
Who are seeking for a meal
I hope the tourists don't feed them
For that's a dangerous deal

 

If we are lucky we may see
A moose and perhaps her calf
Feeding nearby in open ground
Their gone at a shout or laugh
 

Here the chimpmunks are so tame
They will eat right out of your hand
They certainly are frisky
As they scurry about the land

 

In Jasper Park you will see
Wonders to hold you in awe
Maligne Canyon, Angel Glacier
Greater sights I never saw
 

Maligne is cut so deeply
And in places it looks so blue
If it cuts deeper in the rocks
It no longer will be in view

 

As you climb high and higher
Mountain flowers you will behold
Bluebells, Indian Paint Brush
Columbines, they're thousandfold
 

As you continue climbing
At the tree-line you will be
From this point on there is no more
But rocks in their nudity

 

The time has come to head back home
Holidays will soon be o'er
It's always hard to turn around
When your heart still cries for more
 

The road back home doesn't seem so long
We're back in familiar scenes
Leaving is always exciting
But we'll soon be back in routines

 

DEPRESSION
Have you ever sat alone and lonely
With time heavy on your hands
And watched the minutes on a clock drag by
Like drifting, whispering sands
 

Then if you have perhaps you will understand
The thoughts that pass through the mind
With a word of faith and a word of hope
A word that is true and kind
 

A word that fore-tells of the hope to come
When everything's dark and grim
A word that would bring true peace to the soul
As would to a saint, a hymn

 

Have you ever waited so wearlily
As hours pass into days
Or by yourself tried to raise the spirit
That would help clear up this maze
 

Thoughts now linger on the future
And what it's holding in store
Perhaps some things will stay as they are
But hopefully there'll be more
 

Days drag by so slowly as you try your health to regain
But with the help of a good kind friend
Vigorous and true effort on my part
Hard work will win in the end

 

WINTERS FURY
When winters wrath has gripped us tight
And shakes us hard with all his might
When days are short and nights are long
The cold's intense still going strong
 

When trees will crack and split with cold
You tightly to your senses hold
And when this wrath you start to fear
You often wish that spring was here

 

When blizzards hide all things from view
And lonesomeness we can't subdue
When country roads are blocked with drifts
And stay that way till the weather lifts
 

When power lines break with the frost
All things go dead, you feel so lost
When winters rage is most severe
Again you wish that spring was here

 

But winter too brings untold joys
On Christmas morn with all the toys
Children laughing excited faces
Parents rushing, hectic paces
 

Then you relax and enjoy the fun
Good times are here, they've just begun
Old friends and relations whom are dear
Makes you forget that springs not here

 

BY THE SEASIDE
One summers morn I sat forlorn
Beside the noisy sea
I heard a sound and turned around
To see what it may be
 

A sealions roar so near the shore
Filled me so full of fright
I came alive and to survive
I took my heels in flight

 

I ran so fast until at last
I fell down out of breath
You will agree she'd frightened me
And scared me half to death
 

She puffed and blew with much ado
For terror she had caused
As I cooled down that brawny clown
Just gave a snort then paused

 

She seemed to laugh and then her calf
Came swimming into view
I stood in awe and then I saw
The reason for her stew
 

A school of sharks just out for larks
Had put her on the run
And so she knew what I'd been through
As both our race had won

 

I stood awhile then gave a smile
And couldn't help but think
The run we'd made when both afraid
Sure kept us in the pink
 

And now this tale if I prevail
Is drawing to a close
And so good-night put out the light
And end this silly prose

 

RAFTING ON THE SASKATCHEWAN
During our Centennial year
Everyone got in on the act
We all excelled at our own thing
And all celebrated the pact
 

Three young men that I know quite well
Tried our luck at building a raft
Now this must be a sturdy float
A solid and noteworthy craft

 

With hammer, saw and cans of tar
We fashioned two water tight floats
And tried it out on the little dam
It's safe and seaworthy Kurt quotes
 

We loaded it on the car top
And carefully drove north of Lloyd
Assembled it on the river bank
Where of problems we were devoid

 

Slowly we drifted with the flow
Excitedly up went the sail
Then when it started to nose dive
For a moment we were both pale
 

Proudly we drifted down the river
Displaying centennial flags
Then of a sudden Kurt shouted
Watch sharp and beware of the snags

 

Passing a bend in the river
By chance we had drifted ashore
Then pulling the raft around the turn
Where soon we were floating once more
 

When leaving Frenchman Butte behind
We observed a very strange sight
It looked like the water was boiling
Which filled us with awe and with fright

 

Being a hot and beastly day
Kurt bared his feet to the sun
And before the evening came around
You could see the damage was done
 

For they were both very red
And they looked so painful and sore
That for the remainder of the ride
Their burning he could not ignore

 

When we awoke the next morning
The wind had swung around to the east
Which made our trip go so slowly
That we rowed and rowed like a beast
 

It seemed that we couldn't make headway
We tried and we tried and we tried
Then coming to a rest on an island
We'll just have to give up Al sighed

 

Although this trip was forsaken
The river we'll never forget
Some day with the wind in our favor
Again we will get our feet wet
 

It may be in dreams we go rafting
And at night sleep under the sky
This trip I will always remember
And recalling - release a deep sigh

 

RYAN
My grandson took me by the hand
He isn't yet quite two
And led me to the window where
A train was passing though
 

I held him up so he could see
The engines thund'ring by
It certainly did please him for
He gave a joyful cry

 

He watched in fascination as
The varied cars drew near
And as quickly they departed
The others would appear
 

And when at last they'd all gone by
The crummy at the end
He waved goodbye to all the crew
He was their little friend

 

When reading stories of Mother GOose
Or stories that we share
His eyes are always flashing as
They dart from here to there
 

He looks at you so wondrously
As stories you unfold
The myths and tales of long ago
Of knights who were so bold

 

It won't be very long until
His childhood he's outgrown
But happy moments you have shared
Are treasures that you own
 

And when to manhood you have come
May you recall with joy
The happy days you spent at Scott
When as a little boy

 

WHEN WE ARE CALLED
What joy if we but only knew
That when comes our demise
What happiness awaits us in
Our home beyond the skies
 

If people knew or realized
The peace that will be theirs
Happiness waits for all of those
Who climb the golden stairs

 

A man once wrote he spoke of death
A poor mans dearest friend
I'll say to you that when we go
Our joy will never end
 

The cares that brought us so much stress
From these we now are free
Our Lord and Savior bore our load
When in Gethsemane

 

The worries that come to our mind
When we know death is near
Much better off we all would be
To meet it minus fear
 

When we are told our time that's left
Is numbered by the days
Rejoice and be glad the time has come
We near the golden rays

 

When angels knock upon your door
And come to claim your soul
Just welcome them with open arms
Your name is on the scroll
 

And so my friends enjoy your life
But have no fear of death
Heaven awaits to welcome you
With your departing breath

 

THOUGHTS ON IMPENDING RETIREMENT
I just retired from my job
About a year ago
I thought it would be heavenly
To sit and let things go
 

But the days are getting longer
When there's no load to bear
I wish I was back in the harness
And pulling my full share

 

Sometimes when your legs are aching
And you think your back is broke
You may wish that you were retired
But I'll tell you it's no joke
 

For the days get long and longer
As you wish for things to do
You may try your luck at poetry
And scribble a line or two

 

They tell me when you are working
To prepare for what's ahead
But to prepare for retirement
Are thoughts that I just dread
 

For muscles that's used to working
And the back that carries the load
Will find little rest or comfort
Laying in some abode

 

Or the mind that's used to thinking
Finds little it can do
Small wonder you get weary
Or try something that's new
 

So when you're hard at your labours
Just pause and think ahead
Of that poor lonely retired man
Who would be there instead

 

TRANSPORTING A COMBINE
One evening when relaxing while lifting one or two
3 muskateers decided to wheel the combine through
A pull-type had been purchased and waited in the yard
As Loon Lake's just one-eighty miles it shouldn't be too hard

 

We left extremely early around 2 in the morn
The night was dark and cloudy the new day not yet born
Rolling along the highway at 20 miles per hour
Time quickly disappeared and the miles we soon devour

 

Kurt gladly took the first turn and soon left Scott behind
Everything went smoothly but the shower wasn't kind
It is not very pleasant when driving in the rain
But it did not hinder him his mind saw fields of grain

 

When we reached North Battleford of side streets we availed
Avoid the busy thorough-fare less chance to be nailed
The tractor seemed so noisy as we drove through the town
To those whom it awakened 'twould more than bring a frown

 

Bud who now was driving ran into a spot of grief
With water in the gastank he stared in disbelief
He soon cleaned the bowl out and was quickly on his way
Taken with no more troubles drove into the brand new day

 

Kurt brought along his camp stove and by the roadside cooked
Bacon, eggs, toast and coffee not one thing overlooked
We enjoyed this early meal as Bud drove into view
And now as I was driving he had his breakfast too

 

This cycle was repeated no problems to regard
Everyone was happy as I drove into the yard
Though the tractor and combine were splattered now with mud
I'd reached our destination but where was Kurt and Bud?

 

They'd stopped off in town to get some pleasures and some smiles
To help ease the tensions we had driving all those miles
Mrs. Kutchera was happy she beamed as she saw
Their tractor driving in the yard, good times ahead for Pa

 

Then came some celebrating when I got rather high
"This is really living', brought smiles to many an eye
Bud and I even had a short row on Max's canoe
Although of boats or boating we neither had a clue

 

Now my tale is ending the close of a very long day
Everything was hazy let things happen as it may
The combine had been toasted with many a hearty nip
Oft times in mem'ries I recall - fun we had on this trip

 

LIFE BEGINS AT 40
DAVID
When you were just a little boy
You little thought of 40
You were my shining pride and joy
Alas- you've now turned 40

 

But do not fret as you grow old
If you repeat the tales you've told
Just smile and laugh, do not withhold
Good times begin at forty

 

So have a happy birthday Dave
A drink when you turn forty
And even though your youth you crave
It's gone - for you've turned forty

BOB
For you to today, life's just begun
For life begins at forty
You've got it made - relax - have fun

That magic age of forty

 

Although at times life may seem drear
And passed you by at forty
Just shout it out for all to hear
That you have now turned forty

 

So have a happy birthday Bob
A toast to you at forty
For time can not erase or rob
That magic age of forty

BETH
When you were just a little girl
You used to dress so sporty
But life now sometimes seems a whirl
Today when you are forty

 

The years have past - they quickly fly
Your not as young and not as spry
Now to the thirties say goodbye
For you have just turned forty

 

So have a happy birthday Beth
And always dress as sporty
Laugh at this rhyme - don't hold your breath
For life begins at forty

JOHN
When you were young you liked to trap
Said you would be a hunter
When you snooze now I'm in a flap
Sometimes think you're a grunter

 

Your pigeons I'd take with concern
And told just where to free them
You'd check the time of their return
As soon as you could see them

 

You soon grew up - became a man
Today you have turned forty
No longer your a superman
Remember you are forty

 

So have a happy birthday John
A toast to you at forty
Don't fret o'er good times that have gone
For life begins at forty

JIM
When you were small we loved to play
In childhood dreams - went far away
You little thought once in a day
About the age of forty

 

I loved your chubby, smiling face
And if I could would time erase
But now I wish we could embrace
Today when you turn forty

 

But time has gone - the years have flown
If somehow I had only known
'Twould seem a day till your fullgrown
And now you have turned forty

 

So have a happy birthday Jim
With happiness up to the brim
Drambuie now your mind to dim
For life begins at forty

SHEILA
When you were young and you got bad
You'd often say "I want my dad"
And for the minute you were sad
But never thought of forty

 

When on the raft out in the slough
You lost your glasses they fell through
And where they fell we never knew
But they're no good at forty

 

I've just recalled some days of yore
But they're gone forevermore
Just celebrate - let spirits soar
Today when you turn forty

 

Now Sheila, have a happy day
A toast to help you on your way
Enjoy yourself at work or play
For life begins at forty

KEITH
You wandered and explored the land
You followed the sea, the sky, the sand
Often times our sides you manned
But today you turn forty

 

Let's toast to another day
We'll gather round and we'll say
I never thought it would be this way
That magic age of forty

 

Tales live on they always will
Can you hear the laughing still
Your pranks always were with great skill
n' yer still at it at forty

 

So have a happy birthday Keith
A toast to you at forty
Don't sit and fret the time away
For life begins at forty

HUGH
You always were the quiet one
Perhaps because you were so young
But your best song is yet to be sung
For life begins at forty

 

You've seen some things and you dug the earth
Enjoy it at forty
Never give something more time than it's worth
In life after forty

 

So have a happy birthday Hugh
A scotch to you at forty
The bells are ringing out for you
At the magic age of forty

 

{ Picture this now if you can
When we traveled the Yukon land
It made me a better man
As I'm approaching forty}

 

MEMORY LANE
I'd love to stroll down mem'ry lane
And hear as days of yore
The birds still singing in the trees
Sweet sounds you can't ignore
 

The thoughts and days of yesteryears
Come rushing back to you
As you recall the dreams you had
The dreams you hoped came true

 

As children we would climb the trees
Beneath them we would play
Our laughter filled the countryside
And echoed far away
 

As we grew up our thoughts would change
As visions filled our mind
But what we learned in childhood days
We'll never leave behind

 

When thoughts return to yesteryears
We know we've reached our goal
It fills our minds with happiness
It's peaceful to the soul
 

So let's enjoy our youth again
And dream of days gone by
When as small children we would play
And laughter filled the sky