He worked on the land, a farmer by trade.
He never will know the impact he made.
When plowing the fields, his mind would be filled
with lessons in life he taught and instilled.
“Life’s pretty simple” my grandpa would claim,
“The rules we should live by are always the same.”
He delivered his thoughts in a wry kind of style.
You’d think he was mad, but then he would smile.
He was always profound, a man of his word.
He would always look forward despite what occurred.
“I’ve never reaped anything I didn’t first sow.
The seeds that you plant is the crop that will grow.
Fix your eyes on a spot, if you want to plow straight.
If you need to start over, it’s never too late.”
One thing I remember, he often would share,
Don’t tear down a fence, ‘til you know why it’s there.
Some fences are built to keep danger away,
some fences are built so we’ll know where to stay.”
His philosophy in life was to, “Let people be.
I’m not here to judge, lest they should judge me.
Some things are better off left on the ground,
manure doesn’t stink ‘til you stir it around.”
The best thing he taught me was how I could find
the answer to anything crossing my mind.
Whatever I’d ask him, he’d get out the Book,
saying, “God wrote it down, if you take time to look.”
A farmer by trade, he worked on the land.
He understood things that few understand.
Author notes
This is dedicated to my grandpa, Lamar Gardner. Although the quotes are all mine,
they sound like what he would have said. He was a man of few words, but when
delivered, they made an impact. The image is his barn in Iowa. Thanks for letting me share. Kevin, WordsDoMatter
In a list
- Lessons in Life Story Poems • next in list
- My Personal Favorites • next in list
- Gold Medal Winners • next in list
A contest entry
- This Is Our Life by charmander13.
700 points, ended January 12, 30 entries
Gold trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - Best of the best... by Jfd.
1500 points, ended February 3, 34 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest - GIVE ME YOUR BEST by sanguigno.
1100 points, ended February 15, 79 entries
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 26 of 26
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i like this. it teaches a lesson and does it well
thanks for entering! -
A great dedication to your grandfather! Very well done....my favorite part:
"The best thing he taught me was how I could find
the answer to anything crossing my mind.
Whatever I’d ask him, he’d get out the Book,
saying, “God wrote it down, if you take time to look." -
wow this is good! poingant stuff, and very well related too! This poem is meaningful right down to the last line, which is a rare thing. I loved the last line too by the way!
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thanks
I am glad you enjoyed it, there is a lot to be learned from our heritage if we embrace it - Kevin
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Gold with honors
It is an honor to read and be in the same contest.
Well written words of life advice.
Buddy
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thanks
buddy, i am honored by your words - Kevin
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Next to this, nothing else has the right to win!
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i take it
you liked it? This one brings back loads of memories - summers on an Iowa farm. No technology, nothing to do.. but we found lots to do, never bored. - thanks again - Kevin
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Very good
Reminds me of my grandpa.Read Grandpas Garden,Mothers table in my poems and see if that sounds familiar.
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thanks
I will go do that... thanks for asking - Kevin
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I think this is outstanding, as in~~ it stands out among all other 'outlook' poems I have read.
The flow, meter, and rhyme were fantastic.
AWESOME!!!
I loved the story line, your grandfather was a true [down to Earth with truth] thinker.
If only all the people of the world behaved and had this outlook, all would be well.
I'm sure God smiles down heavily upon him.
God bless,
Bell
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actually
he's up there with Him smiling down on us... with that sly kind of grin. thanks for your enthusiastic response - Kevin
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Oh golly frikin gosh. To be honest, this is absolutely amazing!
I'm speechless, which is fine because my fingers don't need to speak. I'm not speechless anyway, it's just a figure of speech, which is quite a silly thing to say.
Seriously - Incredible poem!
I REALLY like 'Don’t tear down a fence, ‘til you know why it’s there.', and the rest of that verse too, actually. And the rest of the poem, and oh gosh, I really hope you win this contest! (I haven't read any others, but this is sure better than what I just wrote!!)
Wow.
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you are too kind
thanks, I'm kinda partial to this one... it brings back memories of time spent on the farm.... thanks for your "speechless" words! - Kevin
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This really is a great write. Your grandpa sounds like he was a very profound and special man. Best of luck in the contest and in your future writing
Caity
>Wakawaka<
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thanks
he was a man of few words... but could do anything he set his mind to - thanks - Kevin
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This is the most beautiful piece I've read so far- thank you for sharing!
This description of your grandpa-
"He delivered his thoughts in a wry kind of style.
You’d think he was mad, but then he would smile.
He was always profound, a man of his word.
He would always look forward despite what occurred."
-is absolutely lovely- he'd be so proud that you'd remember him this way.
The lessons you've learnt from him are great and thought-provoking- and this one really tickled my funny bone-
"Some things are better off left on the ground,
manure doesn’t stink ‘til you stir it around.”
Haha!
Thank you so much for your entry and you're going up on the Finalists' List
Keep writing, and all the best to you .
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so far?
you mean, like anywhere? lol ... it's not that good, but it was fun to write. I wrote another about gramps, called "The Liars Bench" you might like it as well (it's funny I think) - Kevin -
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Like everywhere ! Haha. I felt close to your grandpa as I was reading your poem- you've done a very good job, I think.
K, I'll go check out on that other poem of yours.
P.s. Glad you had fun haha. -
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thanks
you made me smile, I love your infectious laugh - Kevin
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Kevin, I absolutely love this! My dad and grandpa were both farmers, although my dad was also a plumber, but the lessons I learned from their example were some of the deepest in my life. This is beautifully constructed, with loving detail. If one needed a philosophy, it would be hard to find better than this...
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yeah,
this one came pretty easy... another one about gramps is "The Liar's Bench" check it out if you get a chance (hardly anyone has). Merry Christmas - Kevin
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Very thoughtful and well written. A lot of memories for many of us who've had grandparents like that. Good luck in the contest and happy trails.
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thanks
and happy trails to you..... Merry Christmas as well - Kevin
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Wow, this is impressive indeed. Your have brought back memories of my own grandfather and his barn. He was also a farmer by trade. Those were the days my friend. My own grandfather was not the in-depth soul as you portray here, but I know that he made a difference to the lives around him. At one time he owned a store when I was young. It was the gas station, the grocery store, the postal office, the restaurant, the ice cream store. I remeber it very well. It was the high-light of my visits to him. And it was the high-light of the town he resided in at the time which was, Nebraska, Indiana. Thank you for taking me down memory lane my friend. We all have grandfathers that made a difference. Your friend in Poetry, Mysty Rain
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well now...
we have something in common (besides writing)... I grew up in Bloomington, IN ... now in Greenfield (Go Hoosiers)... thanks for sharing your memories - Kevin
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