(C) Scottish Society of Martha's Vineyard, 2022 P.O. Box 1895, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
(C) Scottish Society of Martha's Vineyard, 2022 P.O. Box 1895, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
(C) Scottish Society of Martha's Vineyard, 2017 - P.O. Box 1895, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Steve Ewing, Edgartown's Poet Laureate, presenting Dick's wife Carolyn with his poem "Richard Brown" framed with the Martha's Vineyard Tartan. The Scottish Society's 27th Burns Nicht Supper
was dedicated to Mr. Brown's memory,
January 31, 2014.
Photograph by the Rev. Phillip Dietterich.
Richard Brown
By Steve Ewing , Poet Laureate
Every year they
Mysteriously appeared
Like magic wooden elves
In winter time
Cast in proud
Scots weave
Squeezing pipes
Riding stiff
On horseback
Little pine soldiers
Off to Scottish auction
Raising cash for college
More island kids
Trotting off to school
On Dick’s
Pine pipers
I remember Dick in
Summer time
Baseball games
Behind the plate
Calling balls and strikes
Year after dusty year
Or in Boy scouts
Leader of the wild
Island pack
Or soup suppers
Every week
Washing dinner plates
Deep in soapy bubbles
Cleaning up the world
So he used to say
I can see him
Plain as day
Passing collection plates
At church
Edgartown Methodist
Same as mom and
Us four boys
She’s singing
In the choir
With Carolyn Dorothy
Dee and Betty
All the rest
There’s Dick
Always upright
With the
Same suit
Fit and trim
Coming down the aisle
Collection plate
Full of dollars
In sturdy hands
Making sure I stayed awake
To put the candles out
Before the benediction
I remember Richard Brown
Starched white
At the Dairy Queen
He built himself
Passing out sweet treats
To barefoot island kids
Quiet humble
Never proud
He could be stern but
Always with that
Knowing smile on his
Work man face
He lived his life
With such grace
Majestic
In its sweep of years
His legacy will linger
In this place
For all he knew were touched
With dignity
And left to emulate
His thoughtful
Loving gifts
The special time
Dick Brown shared
With us
Dedicated to the Memory of
Richard C. Brown
December 31, 1915-November 27, 2013
By Steve Ewing , Poet Laureate
Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard
Robert Burns Night-January 31,2014
Poet Laureate Archive 1: "Richard Brown"
