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The following poem was written by Frank on 30th September 1977 as one of six letters of correspondence.
The verses about Spain and Argentine Tango were added by his daughter Gail in January 2010.
This poem was read by Franks' daughter Gail at his funeral.
Life is strange life is fun
And when I think of all I've done
I feel I'd like to whack my brain
And live the best bits o'er again
By writing then all down in verse
But when I try it makes me curse
I dont get far although I try
If you read on, I'll tell you why.
Ideas I have no shortage there
I've things to say, themes to spare
Pencil and paper a rubber too
A chair, a table a start is due
Words come easy and the rhyme
The problem is quite simply time
For when I sit to think it through
I find there's something else to do.
Years ago, (that shows my age)
The verse I wrote filled many a page
So when I say I have no time
To sit me down and write a rhyme
You must not think I mean to scorn
Twas merely that I felt forlorn
To think the pleasure that poetry brings
Was crowded out by other things
I stop to think and it amazes
me to think of all my phases
Each lasting years once it started
Nothing I did was ever half hearted
I lifted weights (ran a gym)
Started just to keep trim
Cameras too, I tackled with zest
Weddings, models and the rest.
Dancing next I quickly round
I could not merely 'shuffle round'
Had to practice and compete
Oh! those tired and aching feet.
Into Hi fi I did zoom
Mighty speakers filled the room
Not to hifi shops I'd run
Building them is half the fun
My latest hobby's just the same
Simple shooting is too tame
Not for me the simple yew
And wooden shaft that's nearly true
Alloy handle, limbs of glass
Dacron string and a mass
Of rods and weights to keep it steady
Easton shafts to shoot when ready.
When I did venture overseas on a plane
It was there a love for Spain I did gain
A country in which many dialects are spoken
A scholar of the language it had awoken
A love of Spain brought me alive
And holidays there always make me thrive
For many years I have now travelled
And found the beauty of this country unravel
So winter months I took a break
Many new friendships I did make.
Then back to dancing I did go
But this time it was Argentine Tango
A teaching talent I did prove
As I shared with many the intricate moves
This is when real skill shows through
When you display the moves you can do
For me the wonderful thing to know
Is that so many have now had a go
And I did have an endless zest
To make sure the teaching was the best.
At last the reason's showing through
I've been around more years than you
The things that crowd the poetry out
Show the years (watch my gout)
I dont know what my next will be
I simply have to wait and see
One thing's for sure no golf I'll play
My long white beard gets in my way
I hope that I've now made my peace
Leaving you to write or cease
To 'do you thing' and have your fun
But as for me my verse is done
The daily papers show me how
To wind it up, the time is now
The final line is thus exposed
"This correspondence now is closed"
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