NYC-ROOTS-L Archives

From: "fern" <>
Subject: Re: [NYC] "Dear Ancestors" poem--help I can't find it!
Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2002 14:53:25 -0700
References: <20020105.105410.-385421.0.jcjets@juno.com>

I think this might be the one you are looking for. It was written by one of
my Palmer ancestors. Fern

Dear Ancestor

Your tombstone stands among the rest
Neglected and alone
The name and date are chiseled out
On polished marble stone
It reaches out to all who care
It is too late to mourn

You did not know that I exist
You died and I was born
Yet each of us are cells of you
In flesh and blood and bone
Our blood contracts and beats a pulse
Entirely not our own

Dear Ancestor..the place you filled
One hundred years ago
Spreads out among the ones you left
Who would have loved you so
I wonder how you lived and loved
I wonder if you knew
That someday I would find this spot
And come to visit you.


Lovely poem. It was written in 1906 by Walter Butler Palmer (1868-1932).
Walter Palmer was a family historian, breeder of trotting and show horses,
and an accomplished poet. He was born at Prairie Center, LaSalle Co. IL and
lived in that county for his entire life. During WWI he was in charge of
breeding horses for the U. S. Calvary and at that time Capt. Palmer was
stationed at Spartanburg, SC.

Much of his poetry was written about horses, but some about genealogy and
his
interest in family history. The occasion of the poem which you sight was a
visit which he made in the summer of 1906 to the grave of his great
grandfather, Ephraim Palmer (1760-1852) located at Kishwaukee Cemetery,
Rockford, IL.


----- Original Message -----
From: <>
To: <>
Sent: Saturday, January 05, 2002 10:54 AM
Subject: [NYC] "Dear Ancestors" poem--help I can't find it!


> I've read a poem titled, "Dear Ancestors" before & seem to have misplaced
> it. If you happen to have this could you send me a copy?
>
> Thanks,
> Cherylyn
>
> ~~~Families Are Forever~~~
>
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  • Re: [NYC] "Dear Ancestors" poem--help I can't find it! by "fern" <>