Old Ken Poem by Francis Duggan

Absence makes the heart grow fonder some have been known to say
And the migrant yearns for the old hills a half a World away
But Ken will never again see England's shore with his deceased wife and daughter he will lay
When the reaper pays him a call in a not too distant day.

Old Ken is in his early seventies the years have left him gray
His memory is quite brilliant though his health is in decay
Whenever we meet in the park we chat for a short while
An honest man who worked quite hard free of conceit and guile.

His English accent with him still and with him 'twill remain
Until he breathes his very last that bit of England he'll retain
His wife Lyn was an Aussie and their only child a daughter Sue
Drowned in the sea at Shoreham back in nineteen seventy two.

He has a brown and white jack russell Sandy a faithful little mate
A three years old one person dog to him his master is a true great
'Tis true what what some say about dogs a dog can be your best friend
Your dog to you devoted until the very end.

I often meet him in the park a nice and gentle man
One nearing his mid seventies towards the end of his time span
Still he always seems so happy there is warmth in his hello
He is one of those good people I feel privileged to know.