Ole McGarty "In Honor of Gentleman Jim"

"You know boys" he would always say "why if there's one thing I am not" "Attention grabbing back stabbing" "but I've won every fight I've fought"

Jim McGarty 84 yrs old Picture from 1985 Quad City Downs.

McGarty twisting a new tale

his feet on the pot belly stove

There in the barn, he'd spin a yarn

piling on like a treasure trove

"You know I don't think I told you

how I won the second World War

Ole Ike, needed help with the Reich

and he looked to me and the corps"

 

"Now the country had called on me

Ike wanted us to break the line

So I told Dwight, schedule a flight

just drop us this side of the Rhine

Then my men and I took the field

laying waste such a German swath

Led all the men, yep there and then

survived only on bread and broth"

 

"Well we sought no recognition

I let Ike spin his fairy tale

We were fine, drinking Hitler’s wine

just happy to blaze the trail"

Jim had a weakness for the blondes

touting one on each of his arms

"Easy to see, why they like me

they're after me lucky charms"

He had claimed many a patent

while inventing all the great things

Held universities, degrees

knew all the heads of states and kings

Jim served in World War One and Two

circumnavigated the globe

Hung out on the Nile, for awhile

invented Nasa's first space probe

 

 

"You know boys" he would always say

"there are a couple things I'm not

Attention grabbing, back stabbing

though I've won every fight I've fought"

When the iced wind blew through the trees

we would gather ourselves around

That smiling face, McGarty’s place

where he entertained half the town

Author's Note

Gentleman Jim:Teller of tall tales and whimsical dreams. He was the epitome of our childish inner selves.Take a bow McGarty. You were one of a kind and the worlds greatest storyteller.

Reviews

[Dayran]

The poem is as good as a Farley's rusk soaked in milk. It always held a special place in my memories as food that children love to eat. It appears to me that stories like Farley's go a long way to create a secure feel and anticipation for children whose diminutive condition requires something tall to encourage them to begin to take charge as they grow. Its an essential part of all our early experiences.

[MOON]

Sometimes we underestimate story tellers , they are the folklore . Colourful characters are the lifeblood of the writer they keep history alive. Often fiction woven with non fiction , memory is like that it weaves the real with fantasy and sometimes non fiction is stranger then fiction. Great write thanks for the poetry lesson too as a non technical writer it is most appreciated , not that I fully understand but I love the flow.

[Mockingbird]

a profound tribute to the neighborhood's storyteller. you never know, he might be telling the truth about most of his stories in which case he'd be an interesting person to know. great poem.

[Patricia B. Hepler]

'Farley was twisting a new tale
his feet on the pot belly stove
In our barn he would spin a yarn
piling on like a treasure trove
"You know I don't think I told you
how I won the second World War"...'

'....So when the wind blew through the trees
and the cold air held us all down
We warmed each face, at Farley’s place
where he entertained half the town...'

Everyone enjoys a fine storyteller; in town, out of town &/or all around...
Tate, you epitiomized a fine storyteller! ~pat

[Coyote Poetry]

Very good music and story. I like the old timers. They have a tale to tell. They know laughter and are good to be around. I had Uncles who served in WW2 and would travel the USA. Stopping by with surprise visits. Always a good site. Good to have people who love story and who have lived. Thank you for the outstanding story.
Coyote

[Ama May Cooper]

I sense a kind of sadness hidden under your words, i can't be certan of it but some of this just rings a sombre feel.
I loved it, you have perfectly depicted the protagonist to me and i can picture him running around with a tale or a few of how he has slain many a soilder. Your ryhme is solid. Another wonderful piece of work my dear friend.

[Baby Ricochet]

Awesome. Great rhyme as allways

[Geraldine]

I love your style of writing this. ^^ I also love the tale you have told in here. :D Great job. :D

[Larry Dyson]

James Taylor adds so much to your pleasnatly worded tale ..Laury