Here are three more poems that I especially like from the treasure trove of Verdun Rose Griepp. Like any young woman, Verdun wrote a number of poems about  love, but I chose not to share those. Instead, I like these first two that reveal more of herself and her voice, and the third that uses a voice different from her own.

 

Tools

 

Two strong hands God gave to me.

Two keen eyes that I might see.

Two feet to trod upon His ground,

Two ears to pick up every sound.

      With these tools He blessed me.

 

A palate to taste of everything,

Lips to laugh and speak and sing.

A nose to smell His fragrant earth,

And common sense to judge its worth.

      With these tools He blessed me.

 

 

I know myself:

Ever tearing down,

Always criticizing,

Close with praise —

But only now

I realize my name:

Iconoclast.

 

 

My Gang

 

My gang’s a bunch of roughnecks;

They’re foul-mouthed, and loud,

They’re fightin’ lugs and snotty,

But, Brother, that’s my crowd.

 

Not one is an Adonis,

They are a homely lot;

But me and them are pals,

We’ll stick until we rot.

 

Sounds sissified to say it,

Though it’s a story old:

Every hardened crust

Hides a heart of gold.

 

They never pull their punches,

and their curses have a tang —

But we all stick together —

Mister, that’s my gang!