KERN-L Archives

From: Chet Swanson <>
Subject: Ode To A Genealogist
Date: Tue, 10 Sep 1996 11:24:33 -0700

The following poem was on the Internet back in May. I kind of liked it
and asked the writer if I could send it out to everyone. Her entire
message is quoted below:

---quoted message begins---
I wrote this poem a few years back when I found that my time got away
from me especially when it came to answering the letters of people who
had written me. I think this also may apply to why we sometimes do not
get answers from our e-mail friends.

Ode To A Genealogist!

I received a letter from you today,
And eagerly I sat to read away,
I soured the pages and discovered that you.
Had found an ancestor of mine or two.

The feeling I felt overwhelmed me so,
And was something that you helped grow,
I thank YOU so dearly for taking the time,
To further my research and save ME time.

Then with deep gratitude I sat down to write,
To express my thank you’s to you that night,
But, alas, my child was crying for me,
To scare away monsters that she could see.

Day after day the time slipped away,
As I cared for my home and my dear family,
Days turned to months and time passed me by,
Until I realized almost a year had gone by.

I’m sorry, my friend, to discourage you this way,
But I honestly did try to write you that day,
I will write soon and tell you, my friend,
How much your letter cheered me no end.

Jayne

---quoted message ends---

Hope you enjoy this as much as I did.

Chet
--
Chet Swanson
mailto:
Everett, WA
"Maturity is a high price to pay for growing up."
(Tom Stoppard, The Plays for Radio 1964-91)

This thread:

• Ode To A Genealogist by Chet Swanson <>