Some Random Thoughts and Poetry for the Day:

I was reminded this morning of the awesomeness of the poetry by Robert Service (thanks Scott!)

My grandpa used to recite Service's poems all the time when I was growing up. His favorite was "The Cremation of Sam McGee" and it always made me laugh. Here's a little portion of Sam McGee:

...I do not know how long in the snow
I wrestled with grisly fear;
But the stars came out and they danced about
Ere again I ventured near;
I was sick with dread, but I bravely said:
"I'll just take a peep inside.
I guess he's cooked, and it's time I looked"; . . .
Then the door I opened wide.

And there sat Sam, looking cool and calm,
In the heart of the furnace roar;
And he wore a smile you could see a mile,
And he said: "Please close that door.
It's fine in here, but I greatly fear
You'll let in the cold and storm --
Since I left Plumtree, down in Tennessee,
It's the first time I've been warm."

There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold;
The Arctic trails have their secret tales
That would make your blood run cold;
The Northern Lights have seen queer sights,
But the queerest they ever did see
Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge
I cremated Sam McGee.

I'm not normally much for poetry, but I revisited some of Service's poems and not only did it bring back great memories of my grandpa but it also led me to the conclusion that Service has really good descriptions of nature and slightly "quirky" people, both of which reminds me of some places and people I know! My grandpa's favorite was probably The Cremation of Sam McGee, but I love "Men of the High North" because I always figured it was written about my grandpa! :-)

...Men of the High North, fierce mountains love you;
Proud rivers leap when you ride on their breast.
See, the austere sky, pensive above you,
Dons all her jewels to smile on your rest.
Children of Freedom, scornful of frontiers,
We who are weaklings honor your worth.
Lords of the wilderness, Princes of Pioneers,
Let's have a rouse that will ring round the earth.

My Grandpa, on a mountain above Sitka, Alaska