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!