Poem - The Census Taker

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paddyscar
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Location: Ontario, Canada

Poem - The Census Taker

Post by paddyscar » Fri Aug 24, 2007 7:56 pm

I was working on some back files on our site, when I came across this poem and thought it worthy of reposting for those, like me, who missed it first time around.
Orignally posted by HeatherH in March 2006.

The "Census Taker"
It was the first day of census, and all through the land;
The pollster was ready ........ a black book in hand.
He mounted his horse for a long dusty ride;
His book and some quills were tucked close by his side.
A long winding ride down a road barely there;
Toward the smell of fresh bread wafting up through the air.

The woman was tired, with lines on her face;
And wisps of brown hair she tucked back into place.
She gave him some water ..... as they sat at the table;
And she answered his questions ..... the best she was able.

He asked of her children ..... Yes, she had quite a few;
The oldest was twenty, the youngest not quite two.
She held up a toddler with cheeks round and red;
his sister, she whispered, was napping in bed.

She noted each person who lived there with pride;
And she felt the faint stirrings of the wee one inside.
He noted the sex, the colour, the age ..
The marks from the quill soon filled up the page.

At the number of children, she nodded her head;
And saw her lips quiver for the three that were dead.
The places of birth she "never forgot";
Was it Kansas? or Utah? Or Oregon ..... or not?

They came from Scotland, of that she was clear;
But she wasn't quite sure just how long they'd been here.
They spoke of employment, of schooling and such;
They could read some and write some ..... though really not much.

When the questions were answered, his job there was done;
So he mounted his horse and he rode toward the sun.
We can imagine his voice loud and clear;
"May God Bless you all for another ten years."

Now picture a time warp ..... it's now you and me;
As we search for the people on our family tree.
We squint at the census and scroll down so slow;
As we search for that entry from long, long ago.

Could they only imagine on that long ago day;
That the entries they made would effect us this way?
If they knew, would they wonder at the yearning we feel;
And the searching that makes them so increasingly real.

We can hear if we listen the words they impart;
Through their blood in our veins and their voices in our heart.
Author Unknown

nancy
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Joined: Sun Dec 19, 2004 11:15 am
Location: paisley renfrewshire

Post by nancy » Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:40 pm

What a beautiful poem,and so very true :)
Our one and only Marilyn sent it to me a yr or so ago,and I thought it was so lovely,yet so sad :(

Cheers Nancy

ASGROOMBRIDGE
Posts: 295
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:32 pm
Location: Frome, Somerset, UK

Post by ASGROOMBRIDGE » Fri Aug 24, 2007 8:45 pm

Oh how lovely, and yes I have this lump in my throat and a tear running down my face. :oops:

Thank you for sharing,
Audrey
Looking for McGowan Anderson Fleming Sommerville Waddell in Lanarkshire. Semple Murray Baird Thompson Hutchinson in Annan Dumfriesshire Baird and Hutchinson also in Kirkinner Wigtonshire and Semple family of Annan Glasgow and Edinburgh

Jean Jeanie
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Location: Stafford West Mids

Post by Jean Jeanie » Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:19 pm

Frances

Am greetin' so ah am!!! :cry:

Best wishes
Jean

sheilajim
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Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2005 10:42 pm
Location: san clemente california

Post by sheilajim » Fri Aug 24, 2007 10:41 pm

Thanks for sharing that with us. It was a great poem, and so true. I must have missed it the first time that it went around. Another good reason for repeating these interesting poems or stories.

Regards
Sheila

Hugo
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Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Post by Hugo » Sun May 18, 2008 12:29 pm

Thanks for sharing that with us. It was a great poem, and so true.

Apologies to Shielajim for plagiarism, but I could not express it any better.

Hugo