Surprising

Dad had a lot of talents, but writing poetry was not on the list. When I found this, I knew I had to share it. Only Dad would use "lard" in a poem - you have to know how ingrained pigs were in his life to really appreciate that. 

I learned the story behind the poem from one of Dad's sisters. She was his accomplice in finding the lamp, and she believes this took place when Dad was a college freshman in 1963. 

He wrote this poem and wrapped it as a present for Grandmother instead of putting the lamp under the tree. It was a large wooden floor lamp with a built-in table.