My Life Poem by Della Hodgson James

 I was born in the good old Ozarks
On October the 19th,1891. 
I have lived here all my life
Tis the best place under the sun.
I can't say I was always happy
I merely lived and thrived,  
Prefering to live out under the sun
As within closed walls be hived.

I married Feb.24th.1907, at the age
Of fifteen, to Samuel Anthony James
Who had asked me the year before
My opinion about changing names.

The 14th of Dec. that very same year
To gladden the heart of myself,  
A wee little stranger came
A baby girl we christened Elph.

In nineteen and nine, a boy
The best that was ever known,  
With gray-blue eyes, and chubby hands
We named this little lad Owen.

Fate seemed so unkind at times
Yet, we know that God knows best,  
Owen lived until, only nine
Then was called to join the blest.

In the year nineteen and eleven 
When the earth was alive with joy,  
Two days before Christmas it was
God sent us a red haired boy.

Then Jewell, a brown eyed baby girl
Then Grace, with eyes of blue,  
Next Clinton, with eyes and hair of brown
Then red haired Cliff, with blue eyes too.

In the year nineteen twenty four
Another fairy, with hair like flame,  
Came to live with us in our abode
Clarice Audrey is her name.

In the nineteenth & Twenty seventh year,  
Another baby man. 
Was sent to join our rank and file
We named him Darrel Van.

Flaxen locks, but sky blue eyes
Just like his baby sister,  
A delightful bright spot, in our home
The darling little mister.

Then in the nineteenth & thirtieth year
October the ninth, there came
Another brown haired, but blue eyed boy
McVerdon is his name.

Last, but not least, by no means,  
He is a sturdy lad. 
He talks of mighty things he'll do,  
And he calls his father, Dad.

* * * * * * *

Little voices from the past
Like silvery, tinkling, symbols. 
Awake me in the hours of night
And are my great preamble.