Tom

On a day in June in a decade of strife
Was born a boy with a tough start to life
He grew up quickly as 2 brothers now here
Then a world war, exploding bombs, spreading fear

Ration books and austerity came into play
A life of daily struggle to keep the wolves at bay
Along came a woman from the Emerald Isle
With a sparkle in his eye, they courted for a while

A red haired Romeo and a Wexford Juliet
They danced and romanced, their love was set
A wedding in church on a late Autumn day
The union sealed the Roman Catholic way

A wife and 8 children with no time to stand still
Working long hours when spare time was nil
A man of moral fibre, his duty to provide
His unfailing family support could never be denied

The kids flew the nest and Grandkids came
Hard labour took it's toll, then he was lame
Time to retire and take a long rest
This was all he asked for, he deserved the best

He was robbed of his wish in the cruellest of ways
No justice for Tom in his final days
His legacy lives on in the generations to come
His memory precious to all, not just some

We miss him so much and loved him so dear
His soul lives on, his spirit always near.


Thomas Neilson 
1932-2010