|
Yesterday
|
|
I was born on good old Gaspé Where I lived for many a year I roamed the rivers and forests And thrived on fish and deer
I never was a lonely man My life was plain but free And in that country of Gaspé The sights were fair to see
With it’s rolling hills and valleys It’s lakes and sparkling streams And the wildlife in the forests A conservation officer’s dream
The hardships and the sorrows I made those all alone When I failed to see and stopped to think “Twas myself that did atone
But now that I am up in years Those memories linger on My mind goes back to yesterday When I watched the coming dawn
I would walk the lovely forest trails See the sun rise on lake and brook When the sun went down I’d pitch my tent To rest, to sleep and cook
But winter time was different With a camp so warm and snug With a plentiful supply laid in Happy as a bug in a rug
Spring time was a draw back the waters roaring high I had to keep my wits about The trails that I passed by
I’d laze around and cut my wood Clean the camp and fix up trails While the snow and water wore away By the force of the lion gales
And when the trees were turning green With a packsack on my back And a good sharp trail axe in my hand I was happy to be going back
I loved the autumn best of all When the woods were turning gold With the challenge of the mighty moose That would make your blood run cold
I saw big men take “Buck Fever” And saw them faint away When the moose charged out with a roar Take a look and trot away
And now it’s time to stop this poem My mind is not too clear Of those wonderful years that I have spent I thank God I am here
So I’ll sit and dream in my old arm chair Of the days when I was young When I roamed the Gaspe forests And say ”thy will be done”
So here’s to the good old Gaspe shores Where the waves roll and pitch In summer a beautiful place to be In winter a son-of-a-bitch
Written by an old river guardian from Gaspe Craig Baird Cambridge, Ontario
|