Old Joe In The House At The Corner Poem by Francis Duggan

Old Joe in the house at the corner for five years he has lived on his own
And he has lived all of his life in the district and all over the town he is known
He doesn't have a T.V. or radio doesn't even have a telephone
Those would be of little use to him for he is as deaf as a stone.

Life has been so sad for the old man since his beloved Ann passed away
She died at the end of September in his long life his saddest day
For three decades they had lived together through sorrow and laughter and tears
And all he has left are his memories his memories of happier years.

When he met Ann he met his soul mate the bond of true love it is strong
They never stopped loving each other and together they truly belong
A soul mate is more than a lover a lover may seek pastures new
But soul mates are always together and to each other remain true.

They had been through the good and the bad days their only child died in her cot
Young Dorothy was only six months he still remembers little
'Dot'
His most treasured memento the framed photograph still hanging on his bedroom wall
Of he with Ann holding young Dorothy his most treasured memory of all.

On a blanket he lay in his garden in the coolness of the balmy breeze
And he can't hear the buzz of the traffic or the birds piping high on the trees
And in his dreams she is resting beside him the only true love he has known
And the sound of a bomb wouldn't wake him for he is as deaf as a stone.