Many many moons ago when I was knee 'igh to codfish, me dad spent most of 'is years fishing and was gone fer months on end. We used to count da months 'til 'e came 'ome. Always when 'e did, 'e brought 'ome a 'uge jar of pennies. We 'ad a 'ayday counting 'em all and looked forward to spending 'em! Try and remember dat a penny back then was a lot! It is only years later and me dad 'as passed away dat I see da significance in da jar of pennies. Fer every penny dat went in da jar 'dere was a thought of us. Me brudder and I got talking about it and 'e decided to write a poem about it. I miss you Dad and I will never forget the love in each and every penny!!!

Bright pennies in a jar
Each one saved with love
By a caring,gentle father
For those he was thinking of

Each one was a loving thought
A caring loving touch
It's not the pennies I remember
But the love he gave so much

The pennies are all gone now
But the memories are a part of me
Bright shiny pennies in a jar
Each one a precious memory

DAD'S OLD STORE

I remember when the winter nights were long
and dad would work in his old store
And how I used to sit and watch him
for many an hour or more

My mind brings back the smell of fir
and the sweet sweet smell of pine
As I would sit there in the shavings
while he crafted things so fine

My dad made things for neighbours
Windows,chairs or doors
And I just loved to sit and watch
as he worked in his old store

Now the old store stands empty
My dad has gone to rest
But the memories of those times
they are among the best

My dad taught me the craft of wood
but I learned something more
I learned of love and patience
out there in dad's old store

ROOSTER CROWING
TO HERALD THE COMING DAY
RESTLESS WAVES
BREAKING AGAINST THE ROCKY BAY
SEAGULLS SCREAMING
IN THE EARLY DAWN
SOUNDS OF SILENCE
FROM THOSE WHO ARE GONE

SISTERS

Sisters are like wildflowers
blooming on the mountain high
Sometimes sweet and loving
and sometimes very shy

I remember when you were young
with your dimples and your curls
and as little sisters go
you were the sweetest of little girls

As I watched you grow
my heart was filled with pride
and I always felt so proud
with you walking by my side

Now you've grown into a woman
with children of your own
Our days together when you were young
are some of the best I've ever known

Here's to you, my sister dear
whatever else in life I do
I'll always be proud to tell the world
I have a sister like you

SON OF MINE

Where have you gone O son of mine?
It's so long since I've seen your face
Where have you gone O son of mine?
Is it to a far better place?
Where shadows never fall
And tears don't stain the face
Why did you have to go?
O son of mine, I still miss you so

Where have you gone O son of mine?
It seems so very long ago
You were just a babe in my arms
You never had a chance to grow
Why you had to leave so soon
I guess I'll never know
O son of mine how time does fly
And I still love you so

O son of mine, my life grows short
And dims with each passing day
O son of mine,the day draws near
When I'll be coming your way
Soon I'll be shrugging off this life
As a butterfly shrugs off it's old cocoon
O son of mine the time is almost here
And we'll be together soon

I love you, son of mine.

You started fishing when you were barely sixteen
down on the coast of Labrador.
You ended up being a fisherman
for forty years or more
When things got rough you hung on
did the best that you could do
There was no uic or welfare
back then to rescue you

No, you had to make it on your own
with a wife and eight kids to feed
You fished down on the Grand Banks
to supply their every need
For six or eight months of every year
You'd be gone away from home
Was it the call of the open sea

It was tough being a fisherman
working night and day
It seems all you ever did
was work your your life away
You never did complain very much
You just lived your life from day to day
When you stop to think of it
I'm sure there is no better way

I remember you coming home in summertime
for just a day or two
You were like a stranger to me then
It seemed I hardly knew you
And when you came home for the winter
You spent your days cutting firewood
I would only see you at evening time
but still our life was good

We always had food on the table
and decent clothes to wear
Whatever we had
you were always willing to share
Your door was always open
to friends or anyone in need
You always helped your fellow man
you were a friend indeed

Somehow I always picture you in a dory
with your old sou'wester on
'cause everytime I looked for you
It seems that you were gone
Back to the sea and fishing
Leaving me behind
I guess life was like that way back then
and you never seemed to mind

I was just a young man
When you had to retire for heart disease
Did you miss the roll of the ocean
and the soft sighing westerly breeze?
Was your heart out on the ocean?
while you were stranded there on land?
That's all right if it was
because now I understand

You've been gone now for many years
and missed most of the grandchildren that we had
But when I think of you now
I no longer feel so sad
Because I still love you
My dad you'll always be
For as long as I live
You'll always be a part of me.

Why do I love you like I do?
I guess I'll never know
After all you're just a piece of rock
jutting up from the Atlantic floor

But, oh how you stir this heart of mine
now that I'm far away from home
This terrible ache and loneliness I feel
whenever I wander,where ever I roam

Oh, the feelings in this soul of mine
that come from somewhere deep inside
For every time I think of you
I think of you with pride

Rugged rocks and rugged people
People whose hearts are pure as gold
They've put down roots in this old rock
roots that will forever hold

These old craggy windswept shores
Sometimes barren of grass or tree
You may be just an old piece of rock
but by god, you're home to me

Please don't call me mister
when you come to shake my hand
for there are no misters
back here in Newfoundland

We're all one big happy family
everyone here is friends.
Once you know a Newfounlander
that friendship never ends

On the mainland they tell dirty jokes about us
But they still can't understand
how we can laugh at outselves
back here in Newfoundland.

Laughter is the best of cures
for any ailment known.
So we write our songs and tell our jokes
and the laughter is our own.

So please don't call me mister
when you visit in our land
then I will sit and talk to you
and say Welcome to Newfoundland.

JERRY'S NOSE,NICK'S NOSE,
FAMISH GUT, AND SAVAGE COVE.
RUN BY GUESS, AND SNAKE'S BIGHT,
COMFORT COVE AND HEART'S DELIGHT.
FRANCOIS, BAY DE VIEUX,
CHALEUR BAY AND L'ANSE A L'EAU,
PLATE COVE, BUTTER COVE,
BREAD ISLAND AND SUGAR LOAF.
RED ISLAND, GREEN ISLAND
BEAR;S COVE AND LION'S DEN.
BOY, THEY SURE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOUR
WAY BACK THEN!!