Great Grandma’s Poem

A Poem by Japanese Waka poet Saigyo reminds me of a poem by Flora Holden Marett about her ship wreaked father George Marett of Jersey Isle. 

Poem:

Poems by Flora Holden Marett From Reminiscences of the man I married Half forgotten are my playdays in the old house long ago Where the organ pealed soft music when the lights were all aglow. Built of stone with roof of tile: It might stand a thousand years. Could it speak, the tales twould tell of courage, faith, laughter and tears. It was a large, two family house, five were living on each side. A huge fireplace in each apartment and the rooms were high and wide. Kitchen walls were handhewn timbers. White cobble stones composed the floor. Firetongs were brass, all shining, Brass knobs and knockers on the doors. We must work from dawn till evening: Father gone, now Mother too. There has been a fatal shipwreck, Father was one of the crew. He was cast upon an island, very small, with little food except the bark And leaves of trees .made friends with a small bird and a tiny tropic animal as he hark - Ened to the sounds of the sea; waiting for the ship that after six weeks of his plight passed That way and sent a little boat in answer to the waving rag of white. Saigyo on youtube Jersey Isle