John Pound of Portsmouth was a most unusual man.
Though no one would have thought it when his working life began.
He began as a shipyard apprentice until he had a nasty fall
Which crippled the young worker who then took up the cobbler's awl.
First he helped his cousin who was so weak and lame
The shoes that John made him meant an end to his life of pain.
This most unusual shoemaker gave freely to the poor
And clothed the ragged children who came to his workroom door.
He fed and clothed their bodies this man so good and kind
But more than that he planted good seeds in each young mind.
He taught them all their letters and how to read and write
And he gave to them a future with chances clear and bright.
For thirty years he struggled to play his little part
In giving poorer children, in life a better start.
But midst New Years celebrations in eighteen hundred, thirty nine
He was called to glory, taken whilst in his prime.
But though his life was over, his spirit was not dead.
His ideas went on living and the ragged schools were spread.
This poor and crippled cobbler had no thoughts of fame.
But his kind and generous actions perpetuate his name.
Author notes
John Pound 1766-1838
He was little more than a journeyman cobbler but for more than 30 years he educated (and clothed and fed) many of the raggedly clothed children of Portsmouth.
After his death his example was used as the foundation for the Ragged Schools Movement. This was the precurser of State Schools in England
More details here www.infed.org/youthwork/ragged_schools.htm
Written March 1st, 2006
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What did you think
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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Once again thank you for kind words and loud applause. Having read some of your verses recently your words mean even more.
Thank You
Jim -
excellent
Well, I simply love this poem, and the unsung hero theme is one I've also been drawn toward. This has a very Blake and Dickens feel to it, was very well-crafted and a pleasure to read. Thank for sharing this very humanistic, inspirational and moving poem.
Mercury Rising -
Thanks for those kind words. This was a story that wrote itself almost, as I sat outside John Pound's preserved cobblers shop in Portsmouth last year.
Jim S -
I admire the style and presentation of this narrative poem that conveys lots of ideas about John of Portsmouth to this reader.The word flow is unique and it does fit in properly with the theme of the poem.
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Thanks for the nice words Quill. I was particularly bothered about the second couplet. It seemed a trifle stretched.
BTW I wouldn't have said Robin was completely anything
Jim S -
Good one Jim ,this is fine no tuning needed , if I was you i'd ignore that Montez he is one of those complete wankers.
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Thanks for the comment KD.
Jim S -
this is a very interesting rhyme. I did ejoy it. Thank you for posting it.
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Hi dear Jim.You don’t need to change it at all.It’s quite perfect now.
Shahrzad
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Morning D-i-T .
With my connections with education and the Cinderella movement I have known about the ragged schools for some time but finding out about Pound by stumbling across his old shop/school was the impetus for this.
Written outside the actual site on a wet afternoon in Portsmouth I know it is a bit rough but I'm not sure how to polish it without drastic changes.
I thought I'd see if the folk on AP had any ideas.
Jim S -
Hi Robin. It's a movement I had known about for some time but I stumbled across his old shop in a back alley down in Portsmouth and wrote this from the information on the nearby plaque. I keep looking back at it but, as you rightly say, it is still weak so I thought I'd offer it for suggestions.
Jim S -
Thanks for reading and writing Shahrzad. I don't feel this as tight as some of the others but after staring at it for what seems like months I am not sure how to change it
Jim S -
i agree with montez.
we're studying the british industry in world's history.
good write.
thank you for sharing this with me. -
I've never heard of him, nor the movement, so the poem was very interesting.
However, I believe it needs a little "tweaking" here and there, to better the flow.
Still, it deserves an applause, so, here's the clap.
Robin. -
wow..wow..wow...this is so lovely and wonderful.Thank you for introducing him to us.
Shahrzad
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