Poetry
I was a very minor contributor to the following poem. It was composed almost entirely by my father Judge Edward W. Enslen, from whom I must have inherited some of my poetic propensities. I grew up on Brookside Drive in Wetumpka directly across the street from a most saintly woman, Ehtel Knight. In my youth, she unashamedly encouraged me to live as a Christian, and she set a wonderful personal example for us. For her 100th birthday, our family presented her with a poem.
Ode to Miss Ethel
Dear Miss Ethel, When you were but a babe......
These are the men who were leading the parade.
In 1902 Teddy Roosevelt was the guy.
Built us a canal in Panama without public outcry.
Next was a big man whose name was Taft,
No small boat would do, it took a big raft!
Then Woodrow Wilson through the First World War,
And next was Harding for a very short score.
Along came Coolidge, in the roaring 20’s,
No rappers, but flappers and silent funnies.
Herbert Hoover for a chicken in every pot,
Needless to say that was what was not!
FDR and all kinds of new deals,
This man in a chair was really a wheel.
Truman dropped the bomb ending World War Two,
This was the beginning of a cold war stew.
Good Ole Ike, this general had led the way,
He gave us the federal interstate highway.
John Kennedy and his First Lady Jackie,
No one thought that she was tacky.
Next came. Johnson the hatted Texan,
But Viet Nam proved to be a bad lesson!.
It was Richard Nixon who ended this war’s fate,
Too bad he backed a break-in of Watergate.
Gerald Ford became number 38,
Though good as he was, the next election sealed his fate.
And Carter, a peanut-growing southerner by birth,
His ex-president contributions are of much more worth.
Movie star Reagan, the man who tore down the wall,
A time of peace and good will for one and all.
George W. Bush and a fight over Kuwait,
Won the war but lost the peace first rate.
From Arkansas came Clinton out of the blue,
Short on scruples, there was little he wouldn’t do.
And now another Bush that was hit by nine-eleven.
But we’ll survive again with the help of heaven!
So life goes on and the world keeps turning,
And our love of Jesus just keeps on burning.
Thus on this fall election day,
The Enslens send their fondest “Hey,”
Just being your next door resident
Was greater than being U.S. President.
Your Christian example has seen us through.
Our love and a “Happy 100th Birthday” just for you.
Love,
Edward Enslen and Louise Enslen
John Enslen and Family
Emily Enslen Phyfer and Family
Ellyn Enslen Ritchie and Family