Once I knew a man
He was talented indeed,
He could make antique furniture
To suit your every need.
Before he was deceased
He was the best I ever knew
And when I first met him
My mind he totally blew.
We go back a long way,
Too long for me to remember
But what I do recall,
It was a year in December
Christmas was coming fast
I tried to slow it down,
It had quickened during the years
Especially in Bridgetown.
Elsewhere it was normal
Though it eventually caught up,
I really can’t explain that-
Probably just chance or luck.
I needed antique furniture:
The kind that lasts a while
And I wanted the rarest type
That wasn’t out of style.
I called the furniture man
And told him of my need,
As expected, he answered yes
And off he went with speed.
He used to charge in accordance
To the furniture’s age,
The more you would have to pay
The earlier the stage.
You see, it took much longer
If the piece was very old
But don’t quote me on this one
Since that is what I was told.
It never took him long
To meet anyone’s demand,
Elizabethan or Victorian age:
He would simply say, I can.
He lived in ancient times
As by now you probably guessed,
And that is why back in my time
He was the absolute best.
He was good at clocks too
Especially the antique ones,
Creating all types and fashions
Before he was finally gone.
He lived to a ripe old age
Some say he is still around
And the evidence is wherever
His furniture can be found.
Antiquated, you might say
No, I say antique,
Quite out of the ordinary
He had to be unique.
Stewart Russell © July 2020
