The Past and Now (Pauline Kochan)

As I sit and reflect on life’s joys and sorrows

At sixteen I dreamed of all the tomorrows,

My life would be filled with happy things

But no one knows what the future brings.

I had three brothers and five pretty sisters,

In time they’d all be looking for misters,

My mother said, “oh dear what shall I do,

I just can’t find husbands for all of you”.

The years went by she had troubles galore

The fella’s were pounding down her door,

They all wanted one of those Benkendorf girls

With their sparkling eyes, and teeth like pearls.

If you counted them all, there were quite a few

To mention some there was Jake, Bill and Andrew.

Mother said “I don’t know shall I call the police

Or marry them off, and find some peace.

They finally married one after another

Who were left were Esther, me and mother,

I heard her say, “its just one of those things

In every family, there are ugly ducklings.

“To get rid of these two I’ve a plan that can’t fail

I’ll just bribe some unsuspecting male”.

But Esther and I had made plans too

Young girls always know, just what to do.

I married a man who didn’t care how I looked

As long as he could eat, the food that I cooked.

We had one daughter, and four sons tall,

It was quite a job to care for them all.

Esther went east, and herself found a guy

When mother heard, she heaved a sigh,

And said I’m rid of those two that were over the hill

Their husbands now can pay the bill.

Now many years have gone by, and I’ve moved far away

To Alberta, and here’s the place that we’ll stay

To retire, to dream of days gone by

How fast the years went “Oh me! Oh My!

The end of this story is not yet in sight

But it’s as plain, as day is from night

When we’re all together, you can tell by our laughter.

That we’re all living happily ever after.