Uncle Elvin

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    Uncle Elvin


    Elvin was born trouble and mischievous
    And he was my favorite of the four.
    He was able to stay fairly anonymous
    In truth , he was really, a bootlegger.

    He took me catfishing on the muddy Kaw
    And cut a thorn from my young injured foot.
    He was an uncle who then earned my awe
    With a spread of whiteface and Arabians.

    When Kansas was dry, he bought beer to sell
    From Missouri and sold it to thirsty men,
    For a profit that allowed him to live well,
    Until the revenuers fined him ten thousand!

    No honest man could pay such a treasure
    But Elvin did and enough to rebuild.
    The trickster built a brewery for full measure
    And the gold of beer matched his gold pocket.

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    When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

    John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA

    burdick’s Poems (314)

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