A Poem by Richie Fatkin

- This Poem is displayed at the Bradner Community Hall and was reproduced word-for-word on The Bradner Barker -


THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN TO REMIND US OF BRADNER'S
PART IN THE CELEBRATING MATSQUI'S ONE HUNDRED YEARS
in 1992

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It's nice to see that face again
A time to reminisce 
To chat with some boy chum you had
Or a girl you used to kiss
It's nice to see that smile again
Which adds grace to us all
And know you all took the time
To drop a note or call
From way back East
To far up North
Down South and all points West
You thought it was a great idea
To meet with all the rest
In your own way you've played a part
In shaping up this place
You all were made most welcome here
Regardless of your race
You all are due some credit
And though you had to part
I am glad a tiny root
Still grows within your heart
I'm glad to see the teachers here
But wasn't that a bore
To try to teach us Pie and Square
They're round in every store
And as the grads father said
My son you topped the class
Let me tell you cakes are square
I still think you dumb ass
You did your job and taught us well
And this I will admit
You taught with such discipline 
And boy you took no guff
But aren't you glad you taught back then
When no was no excuse
And five across the palm of your hand
Wasn't classed as child abuse
I look into the hall and see
Some red shirts I recall
That put Bradner on the map
With that leather soccer ball
The Pats and Joes and Johns we had
And then some tricky Dutch
Believe me back in the good days
We weren't liked very much
Remember Father Jim you guys
Now there was one good sport
If we had a game away
He'd cut our sermon short
From sporting teams 
To beauty Queens
Many times we've worn a crown
People knew where Bradner was
This tiny Country town

Oh yes my friends, I can't forget
The things we love to grow
And what beauty we display
At our yearly flower show
But the years they roll along
Getting old is no disgrace
Even if you've lost you hair
You've got a longer face
Who cares if your teeth
Go clickety click
And your hearing aid battery is dead
And there's no spring left
In what you don't got
And your feet feel like bricks
Made of lead
It's only because we are
Getting up there
And we really don't pay 
Much attention
It's not such a bad era we're in
Old age security
And Canada Pension
All of us here have gained a year or two
A wrinkle, a sag or a pot
But all of us here
Are still who we are
What you see is what we've still got
When St. Peter
Shakes our hand
And asks from whence we came
We'll say we once lived in Bradner
That will be our claim
By choice, by chance
I guess for some who have been
Here since their birth
We still think Bradner is like heaven here on earth
As this reunion comes to a close
And once more we must part
We hope many memories
Have found home in your heart
And to the group that had the thought
I know we'd all confess
You deserve some more applause
This was a huge success 
Too bad we have to say goodbye
It's such a sad refrain 
Cause wasn't that the nicest thing
That smiling face
Back home again.

         Richie Fatkin