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| PORT PERRY STAR -- Bill Johnson has been penning verse for three years in his farm kitchen Poet Bill Johnson has been writing his poetry for nearly three years. He gets his ideas from what he sees and hears around him. (See story for details) THE PORT PERRY STAR Now the Port Perry Star is a place of renown And the best place to get all the news from the town For they tell you whats happened ~ from both near and far As you read through the news in the Port Perry Star. For they tell what the town folks are doing for fun And all the smart things that our council have done There are times you may wonder if their thinking is par As you read through the news in the Port Perry Star. And try not to think the worlds come to an end When your wife has run off with your neighbours best friend For you will know where to find them where ever they are As you read through the news in the Port Perry Star. No'/ the Archers have got a new pool on their lawn Where they go skinny dipping every morning at dawn And there's lots of attention where ever they are As I see by the news in the Port Perry Star. And poor Mr. Taylor sure got a surprise When his wife she got mad and then - as we we de de wie wie ee ie de > ww a 66 Brock StW., UXBRIDGE 852- 5291 RC - blacked both his eyes Now he stays around home or don't go very far As I see by the news in the Port Perry Star. Now the Murphys new dog seems to be quite a chore When he leaves a deposit just out- side the door Since the weather got cold he don't go very far As I see by the news in the Port Perry Star. And the folks from the city seem to get all the breaks For they hold some wild parties on' our rivers and lakes While others go camping or buy a new car As I see by the news in the Port Perry Star. There are folks from all over so it seems to appear No they're not alcoholics but they sure like their beer They're the life of the party where ever they are As I see by the news in the Port Perry Star. Though my name's seldom mention- ed there are times I'm afraid Just to look through the news when it's recently made For I never was raised like the son of a Czar As | see by the news in the Port Pony Star. DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC Open Weekdays including SUNDAY! -- By Appointment Only -- 214 Dundas St. E., 194 King St. W,, OSHAWA 579-8752 i Bill Johnson doesn't look much like a poet. He doesn't have a beard, nor does he wear old turtle-neck pullovers or sandals. Bill Johnson looks very much like what he is: a retired farmer. But the 69-year old Blackstock area resident has been writing poetry for the past three years and he now has some 50 poems in his collection. Bill's verse is much like he is: down to earth, a trifle salty (never vulgar), homey, written in a certain lilting style that is evident in the way he talks. Here's a sample, the final verse from his poem called "The Young Farmer's Wife." "Now the hardest thing done in the world, I suppose Is kissing your husband while holding your nose But if I marry, I don't give a darn I'll marry a farmer who stinks like a barn." Bill draws the ideas for his poems from what he observes and feels around him: farm life, a fishing trip, people, animals, the local hospital, and even the Port Perry Star. He told the Star last week that the ideas just "seem to come to me," often late at night. When he gets an idea, he simply sits down at the kit- chen table in the farm house east of Blackstock and starts to write. Sometimes, he can finish a poem in a few hours. Others will take him several days or weeks to complete. There's not much in Bill's background to indicate a flair for writing well-crafted rhyming poems about people and real things. He was a truck driver and a farmer most of his life, but he does admit that his favourite subjects were reading and writing in grammar school more than half a century ago. But he quit school after grade eight to go out to work for his father. He agrees that some of the poems are spicey (like the one titled 'Her Pink Underwear") but they are not vulgar and "I never write anything that would insult somebody." Bill is originally from the Markham area, spent much of his life in southern Ontario moving around from place to place before buying an 88 acre farm east of Blackstock 14 years ago. He raised . cattle, but sold them a few years ago and now keeps himself busy with his poetry, cutting wood, working in the garden and pasturing beef cows for other people. His eye-sight isn't as good as it once was. Not only does he write poetry, he commits many of his poems to memory and recites them perfect- ly in his melodical, lilting voice, always a twinkle in his eye. He's proud of his fine memory and says he can still recite memory work that he did in grammar school as a young boy. He's been a square dance caller at fall fairs all over On- tario and was always in demand to act as MC at a wedding, party or some other function. And he's also proud of the fact that his poem have won two first prize ribbons in the poetry contests at the annual Blackstock Fair. He'll be entering again this month when the Fair is held August 23. Looking for A Place to Advertise Your Business? LOOK HERE! Where consumers in need shop for the professionals in business! Call: 2985-7383 for more information. Bill writes his poems in long-hand, then has his daughter type the finished work. He has thought about trying to have them published in a book, but more or less gaye up the idea when he found out it would cost him about $12 a copy. Still, he plans to keep writing on Tuesday, August 12, 1986 -- 25 Country poet with down-to-earth charm just about any subject that strikes his fancy, like "The Young Farmer's Wife," aor 'The Port Perry Star," both of which are re- printed here for the enjoyment of Star readers, courtesy of Bill Johnson. THE YOUNG FARMER'S WIFE I came up from the city with beau- ty and charm I thought would be nice for to live on a farm So I married a farmer about ten years ago But why I got married I really don't know. On the very first morning I got quite a shock When he came from the barn after feeding the stock For when he went out he was spotless and clean But when he came back his clothes were all green. What a sad disappointment for a young farmer's wife i love and to cherish the rest of her ife If we went to a party or even a dance Why all you could smell was the stuff from his pants. But I like the spring when the land was all green And after a shower the air smelled so clean I would listen to birds and the caw- ing of crows Then he would come in with that stuff on his clothes. I remember one evening the trouble was when He had come from the barn after cleaning a pen Scugog - Transmission Sales Now I've smelled lots of perfumes and even a skunk But I can't tell you here how that young farmer stw k. . Herazzed and he teased me till rais- ing my ire . Then took off his boots set them down by the fire Now I like my kitchen and I've got my pride So I picked up his boots and I heav- ed them outside. And then I got ugly and nasty and mean And threw all his clothes in the washing machine He had a good bath and we both went to bed But he got the cold shoulder so nothing was said. But then the next morning he smell- ed clean and nice As he left for the barn oh he got good advice And then I got nasty and started to yell If you come back stinking you can - go straight to well'l Now the hardest thing done in this world I suppose Is kissing your husband while holding your nose But if I remarry I don't give a darn I'll marry a farmer who stinks like the barn. CASH & CARRY REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS DEALERS -- ERNIE DUNCAN Caesarea, Ontario LOB 1EO commreso.... 2.39.99 -- BUY DIRECT AND SAVE $$$ -- Please call or write for YOUR price list. MOST AMERICAN CARS EXCHANGED 986-0055 ORT AUTO GLASS Eng & TRIM wo B Complete Upholstery HB Windshields B Sunroofs & Pinstripes B Body Moulding INSURANCE == 7A 139 WATER STREET -- PORT PERRY CALL FOR YOUR APPT. WITH THIS COUPON! 325.00 Off; ... 985-8507