I'm Eight-two But Don't Feel Blue

As I sit and I muse in the evening of life,
Fond memory brings past days that were rife,
With joys and with sorrows, with laughs and with tears.
That brightened or shadowed the passing years.
For life is a mixture of sunshine and gloom,
And flowers bedeck both the font and the tomb.
And yet, when the joys and sorrows I weigh,
I can truthfully, and yet, most humbly say,
Most grateful I am to the good God above,
For His heavenly blessings and His heavenly love.

He gave me kind parents. He gave me a wife.
That lessened my labors and gladdened my life.
He gave me of children and grandchildren a host,
Of whose numbers and nature I frequently boast.
When these children sought mate, these girls and these boys,
The found splendid partners, without making much noise.
They left the old homestead to lead happy lives.
And the family "Dunne" thus constantly thrives.
Of grandchildren now I count twenty-three.
Will the number increase? We'll wait and we'll see.

For the friends of my youth, it is idle to call.
The "grim reaper of death" has gathered them all.
Of the friends of my manhood, a few still survive,
As will my friendship while I am alive.
To the friends of my youth, and my manhood I owe,
An expression of grateful esteem, e'er I go,
Where God and His angels ever are near.
Those friends voted me great honors in public station.
In the Courts, in the City, in the State and the Nation.

To all of my children and to their children too,
Twill be great sadness to say an adieu.
I do it not now, but I cannot say when.
I must do it soon, and with tears I will say it then.
But when I do it, I will proudly say,
That none of your caused me an unhappy day.
I've tried to leave you a clean honest name.
And one not a stranger to honor and fame.
You have rewarded me with your clean honest lives,
And have honored Clan Dunne with your husbands and wives.

To the dear friends now around me, not of my kin,
Let me say proudly, ""Twas you who made me win."
When'er I sought honors, your friendship proved true.
Behind you, old friends, you brought hosts that were new.
"Twas your sterling friendship, that put me in place,
When honors were sought in the political race.
That friendship never faltered, in success or disaster,
When my enemies massed, you assembled much faster:
Because of your friendship, I often times dream,
That I still hold some measure of public esteem."

By: Edward F. Dunne, October 12, 1935.