The Collected Poems of Richard Shipman

By Richard Shipman

These poems and thoughts were composed by my father, Richard Shipman. He recited them many times to his friends and family. Only after strong encouragement from those close to him, did he record them for us, who loved him, to always treasure. As most of you know, Dad was raised in a very poor family in the midst of the depression. His father died when he was only eleven, and his mother was taken to the "home for the poor" (a nursing home) within four months of his father's death. His father, John, and mother, Elsie had six sons and one daughter. Maxine was the eldest. After her were six brothers: John (known to us as "Bud"), Lewis, Paul, David, Richard, and Joe. At age eleven, his family scattered, and Dad, alone, was left to live in Denver, Arkansas with his aunt and uncle. Please try to realize that for a small boy from a poor background, my Dad had to wonder if he would ever see his siblings again.When his aunt did not allow him to travel to high school and having attended the eighth grade three times, attaining high marks each year, he ran away to join the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) at age fifteen. Later, he lied about his age, and enlisted in the Navy during the Second World War. He served on the USS Intrepid - an aircraft carrier nicknamed "The Fighting I" - as a tail-gunner in a dive-bomber. In fierce battles over Formosa and Truk islands, he earned the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross with his squadron, the Bombing Eighteen - nicknamed "The Sunday Punchers." It was not until over thirty-five years later that he truly realized the importance of this horrific war and the impact of the sacrifice made by this "Greatest Generation." Returning home after the war, he went to watchmaker's school in Kansas City, Missouri, married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Lucille Youngblood. Later moving to Kansas and finally to Arkansas, he worked as a watchmaker for Treece Jewelers from 1957 until 1961, when he established Shipman's Jewelry in April of that year. He raised my sister, Kelly, and I in a loving and happy home. He fully retired approximately in 1990.Many of you know that my mother was ill the last thirty years of Dad's life and my sister's eyesight problem troubled him greatly. As you read on, however, you will understand that he never felt any of the troubles were too great a burden. In fact, he often remarked that "the Lord never gives you a greater burden than you can bear." He would continue, "You should be grateful if your burden is large, because that just shows how strong the Lord knows you are." We realize that these poems and thoughts would mean less to people who did not know Richard. That is why this book is given to you and others like you who touched my Dad's life. My family and I all hope you will read and reflect on the life and experience of a loving husband, my father and our friend, Richard Shipman. - Johnny O. Shipman

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1482541130
• ISBN13: 9781482541137
• Release Date: February 2013
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 50 Pages
• Weight: 0.28 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.1" x 6.0"