Poor Man

Martha and Ray Campbell,
somewhere in North Dakota,
married for over 50 years.

Poor man, poor man
Rich man, chooser man

Born in a Pontiac
Pontiac Michigan that is

Daddy was a wandering man
“We won’t have much
But we’ll have a lot of laughs.”
He told my Mother
Before they got married
And that’s the way it was

We were poor people in a poor town

Moved to North Dakota
Tiny town, Willow City
Population 200-300
Brother was born
Dad was Mayor
He managed a lumber yard

Still poor people in a poor town

Couldn’t make it in Willow City
Packed all worldly possessions

Tom C and the Pontiac that would carry us
and all our possessions to Michigan in the mid 50's.
Had to sell the bicycle because the car was too loaded.
Willow City Elementary is in the background. 

The four of us
In and on a late '40s Pontiac

Then moved back to Pontiac
Michigan that is
Dad worked at Pontiac Motors
Mom was an artist and homemaker
We were hayseeds from North Dakota

Still poor. Still in a poor town.

Moved to Ohio
On the shores of Lake Erie
Dad was a janitor
Everyone had more than us
Or so it seemed

Poor people in a not so poor town

Moved to Seattle
Slept on a cot in Uncle’s basement
Dad was a janitor again
I attended high school  

With a huge student body
Disappeared among them

Poor people in a rich town

Finished High School
Joined Air Force
A little money from Air Force pay
Seemed like big bucks
Grew some independence
Good company with good people
Naïve but learning every day

Poor man with a future

Met Julieann
Saw my destiny in her eyes
She believed in me
And that I could do anything

Poor man rich with wife’s faith

Got degree
Became commissioned officer

Not so poor…anymore

Finished Air Force career
Great success
Backed by the best in Julieann

My heart was then rich

Two children, Tyler and Samantha
Within their growth and achievements
We find the meaning of life
They believe they can
They believe in Mom and Dad’s love

We are rich

We seize the day
Each of us
In our own way
Julieann, Tyler, Samantha and I
That is our choice

We are rich, and we have choices

Poor man, poor man
Rich man, chooser man

Made in America
It couldn’t happen anywhere else
Could it?