POETRY BREAK: “Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been” – Talbot House

It’s time for a poetry break. I know you’re used to my series “Let Me Tell You How I Died,” exploring the sacrifices made by soldiers and civilians in various military conflicts. However, I’ve decided to put that on hold for awhile. With everything going on, I just don’t have the heart to post it these days. The good news is I’ve been using the time to work on a new poetry series that’s a bit more upbeat for these troubled times. As an avid traveler, I’ve so been enjoying everyone’s recent posts about their past trips. It’s helped me travel all over the world without ever leaving my desk chair, and I can’t tell you how much these posts have made me smile over the last few months. They have inspired and comforted me so much that I decided it was time to return the favor.

A while back, I posted an article about a visit to a place call Talbot House in Belgium. This cozy space, and the kindly Priest who ran it, provided ample comforts for the troubled soldiers of WWI. In these troubling times of my own generation, I’ve found my thoughts wondering to Talbot House quite often. Since I can’t go there (or anywhere overseas) for some time to come, I decided to do the next best thing and put pen to paper, reliving my memories of this wonderful place. Here for you is the very first installment of my new  poetry series, “Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been.” Inspired by all of you, these are poems about some travel gems that have meant the most to me over the years. I do hope you enjoy it.

“Let Me Tell You Where I’ve Been” – Talbot House

There’s a place tucked away in Belgium in the charming town of “Pop”

A place where all the crazy in the world really comes to a stop

Where it’s very quiet and peaceful, where the grass seems extra green

Where there’s a sun-filled room with tea and cakes they like to call “the canteen”

Welcome yourself to Talbot House, a friendly priest once said

It’s how he greeted the many soldiers who fought and cried and bled

He took them in with open arms, regardless of rank and file

He showed them compassion and gave them a shoulder, a place to stay awhile

A friendship corner helped lonely soldiers locate family or a friend

A music room and theater provided laughter without end

There were plenty of books for soldiers to borrow and pass away the day

Or they could stroll in the garden, where a petting zoo let them play

In the writing room they could post a letter after waiting so long

They could go to the sun-filled canteen room, for tea, cakes, and song

And a narrow ladder atop the stairs led to the best room in the abode

A quiet, humble chapel, where troubled warriors could take off a load

But the best part about Talbot House was the priest who ran the place

With his casual uniform, stocky build, and oh-so-friendly face

The boys all called him “Tubby” and he felt like one of their own

And for the happiness of those boys, Tubby worked himself to the bone

He broke strict army protocol to reunite brothers one last time

He lugged his portable organ to the trenches with all their danger and grime

He talked with boys and helped them process their overwhelming pain

He took them in and gave them a home, a place to stay dry in the rain

Hundreds and thousands of people walked through Tubby’s door

And he made every single one of them feel important and well cared for

All in his wonderful “every man’s club” in its quiet corner of Pop

It became its own cubby in history, that house where time seems to stop

A small corner of the big old world where peace reigned instead of war

Where soldiers could relax, make new friends, and escape all the blood and gore

Where a friendly priest who cared so much helped them with their needs

Who showed them compassion with soothing words and even better deeds

I never thought I’d see such a place with my very own eyes

But there came a hot summer in Europe where I got a most welcome surprise

I found myself ringing the bell of Talbot House, and a priest came out to greet me

He gave me a tour of the entire grounds, and there was so much to see

He showed us the garden, the theater and book rooms, the peaceful chapel too

The friendship corner, the old piano, and even the old petting zoo

Afterward I took a seat at a table in the canteen room

I enjoyed a warm cup of tea while the sun cast away all the gloom

Even after so many years, I felt old Tubby in the place

I heard his voice bellow a welcome, I felt him through time and space

I heard the soldiers singing and laughing, and banging those piano keys

I felt their happy smiles, I heard them whistle and tease

Tubby’s spirit is alive and well, you can feel it there all around

In Talbot House, where things slow down, and only smiles abound

And while I sat in his lovely chapel, he taught me something grand

Kindness will always win in the end, even when the world’s gone mad

M.B. Henry

For more photos from Belgium and Europe, click here. 

To plan your own visit to Talbot House, or to donate to the upkeep of this incredible piece of history, visit their website

M.B. HENRY ON FURLOUGH – I’ve been writing up a storm lately between this website and a lot of intense work on my newest novel, which I have just begun querying. It’s time for a bit of a summer break! While our world travels for this year have been cancelled due to Covid-19, my husband and I will be taking a Quarantine-Friendly road trip in the near future, probably involving some nice tent camping and hiking in the wilderness. Feel free to follow along on Twitter and Instagram – handle @mbhenry1985. Posts, and visits to your amazing blogs, will continue in July.  Until then, my friends!