PIERROT

Between 1904 and 1907, my paternal grandfather trained as a schoolmaster at St. Paul's College, Cheltenham. During that time he acquired the nickname of 'Pierrot'. As you may know, Pierrot is a white faced clown as shown in the picture on the cover of 'Pierrot's album' which is a sort of college yearbook containing anecdotes, drawings and poems written by my Grandpa and his college friends. He continued to add his thoughts in the book, throughout his life.

There is an inscription inside the front cover which reads 'For Anthony some day'. In fact I didn't receive the book until 1963, eight years after Pierrot's death. My Grandpa and his book have inspired me through the years and I shall return to it in future posts. For now though, I want to share with you a poem which he wrote in the album. It is called:

When I die
What a nuisance then will be, all that shall remain of me!
Shelves of books I've often read, piles of notes undocketed,
Shaving brushes, razors, strops; bottles that have lost their tops,
Boxes full of odds and ends, letters from departed friends.
Faded ties and broken braces, tucked away in secret places.
Baggy trousers, ragged coats, stacks of ancient lesson notes -
and that ghostliest of shows - boots and shoes in horrid rows.

Though they are of cheerful mind, my family whom I leave behind,
when they find these in my stead will be sorry I am dead.

Burn the papers, sell the books! Clear out all the pestered nooks...
And when you have done away with all that is of yesterday -
if you feel a thrill of pain - master it and start again.

and here's my response written in February 1963 when I was first given the book:

Dear Grandpa - it was as you said, for not long after you were dead,
The papers were burned, the books were sold, and gone was all the dust of old.
Forgive us - but forget not too, that this was nothing, you are you.
It's you we want to meet above, it isn't boots or shoes we love!