submitted by Dianna
Arthur C. Renshaw is 71 years old. He was born September 16 1909 in Wayne Co., Illinois in the Mt. Erie area. He still lives on the home place that originated with his grandfather. His grandchild is 5th generation to live on the land.
Arthur married Margaret E. Sankovich from Woodriver, Ill., on June 24, 1945. Five children were born of this marriage, four boys and one girl.
Arthur is a high school graduate who attended old Mt. Erie High School and then graduated John Sweeny High School in Northern Ill. He recently has been taking courses through Frontier Community College at Fairfield, Ill.
His work experience is rich with variety that includes farming, the armed services, mechanical work, guard and CHELP counselor.
His hobbies include electrical work, mechanic; work, ceramics. His writing
started in 1962 he was asked by one of his sons to help him write a poem
for an English class. Arthur states:
"I've always been a dreamer, people would say something to me, give
me a line, and I would write a poem."
Arthur C. Renshaw
Sometimes I sigh for the good old days
The memories are quite clear
You knew today, in a general way,
What you would be doing next year.
People formed their habits both great and small
You could always make your Spring time plans and continue through the Fall
--Arhtur Renshaw
I set out to write a poem
I was going to make it rhyme
I thought I'd do some writing
That would echo down through time
So I got my pen and paper
And I started out to write
But I could not get the words to work
Tho I penned them through the night
I worked and toiled till day break
I thought I'd lose my sight
Sunlight found me vainly trying
To make the words sound right
But I saw the task was hopeless
And I'd have to let it go.
The day was moving foreward
But my mind was moving slow
In deep despair I quite my rhyme
To try again some other time
A poet, I decided,
Must be one who really knew
When to use the proper word
And how to follow through.
There have been poems written
To amuse both young and old
But this story that I started
Will forever be untold.
--Arthur Renshaw
There is a woman in my life
Who's sweet as she can be
This woman is my wife
And she's all the world to me
I love her in the morning
And I love her too at night
I love her in the darkness
and I love her when it's light
She's my darling, she's my love
She's a gift from heaven above
She's as sweet as she can be
She is the only one only one for me
She's the pleasure in my life
She's my sweet and charming wife
... Margie.
--Arthur Renshaw
I have a friend whose name I know
But I just always call him Joe
He likes to joke, he likes to pun
He's always having so much fun
He works hard too, When ever he must
He'll get it done or nearly bust
He fixes clocks and he does it right
He often works on them at night
I'd like to see just what goes on
When work is done till break of dawn
Their clock must be in a sorry plight
To call a man out in the middle of the night.
--Arthur Renshaw