I have put these in date order. Those with no clue as to the date, I have put first.

KEENKUTTER acrostic

Keep well in mind the term so widely known;

Enquire, and all who will, will frankly own

Each district, north or south, or east or west

No hardware goodsprefers, but theirs the best.

Known thus, and would for the name they bear - 

Undimm’d that name which all the world holds fair - 

Their goods, by ev’r test, are found to be

The best for price, the best in quality.

Each article, thus guaranteed, finds sale:

Remember this - Keen Kutter cannot fail. 

R. O'Neal

Possibly written after the death of his daughter Eily

who died in 1891 aged 6 years.

Last night I was dreaming, of thee love was dreaming, I dream’d thou didst promise we never should part, while thy lov’d will address me - and soft hands caress’d me. I kissed thee, and press’d thee, once more to my heart. 

I dream’d thou were living, my darling I dreams that I held thee once more to my breast - while thy soft perfumed tresses, and gentle caresses thrilled me and XXXX me, and lull’d me to rest. Thrilled me and XXXX me and lulled me to rest.

To Lord Curzon

(a welcome to Derby)

1

Fair derbyshire’s renown’d and noble son,

We welcome you today with genuine pride;

In office high your genius has been tried,

You’ve prov’d your statesmanship in all you’ve done.

2

Effacing self, with mind alert, intent,

You’ve labor’d to enlarge your country’s fame,

In this high aim, deaf both to praise or blame

Your energies, your time, you’ve gladly spent.

3

You’ve strengthen’d England’s pow’r, already great,

And guarded what by val’rous deeds we’ve won - 

An Empire, glist’ning in an orient sun

Whose worth we cannot fairly estimate.

4

Your single heartedness, your lofty views,

Your high and noble aims for father land,

The narrow-minded cannot understand

And these a need of praise you refuse.

5

But we, who proudly England’s past review,

Who have contempt for wizen’d souls that hate

All that which make a nation truly great -

We give you fullest praise: ‘tis but your due.

6

A grateful country never shall forget

All what is due to you for service wrought:

Your vigilance, your care, and anxious thought -

For these she owes to you a lasting debt.

Robt O’Neal

Derby, 28th July 1914

My Wife was ill

1

My wife was ill and stay’d in bed;

I gladly work’d my love to show

But oh! My spirit seem’d like lead,

And all my movements were so slow.

2

For breakfast i had not a thought,

(It is a simple frugal meal)

The butter’d bread and coffee hot

Sent forth in vain their muted appeal.

3

For dinner I had bread and cheese,

And pungent onion just a scrap - 

A rustic meal which fail’d to please:

For food I did not care a rap.

4

For tea some crusts well soak’d in tea,

I took, my body to sustain;

The tea so warm and sweet cheer’d me

And I felt full of hope again.

5

‘Tis when the wife is ill we learn

To truly estimate her worth,

‘Tis then with loving eyes we turn

To her - our joy and help on Earth.

R. O’Neal

5th March 1917

For Little Lion

I Know

(A “patchwork” poem)

I know I’m I,

I know you’re you,

I know we die,

I know what’s true.

I know birds sing,

I know the dark,

I know bees sting,

I know dogs bark,

I know we sleep,

I know we wake,

I know we weep,

I know we quake,

I know there’s light,

I know there’s pain,

I know what’s right,

I know plants grow,

I know there’s heat

I know there’s snow

I know life’s sweet

I know God rules,

I know He’s just,

I know we’re fools,

I know we’re dust.

R O’Neal

14.8.18

Eggs at 7 ½D

fanfares national pride slightly less than most. It is a short light epithet about the cost and availability of eggs, written on ‘peace day’ - the close of the first world war. The timing and fatuous subject matter makes me feel this is much more ironic than a genuine complaint. If this is the case, then it may cast a different light on all his other writing - perhaps he was using a traditional ironic poetic form used over the centuries, to assert political messages and views. This is in no way to suggest Bob’s poetry is of high quality and certainly it is in no way Shakespearean, but we do see this form of irony used by the bard in several of his plays to make political points whilst protecting himself from treasonous accusations.

There are two other small references to food shortages in Olla-Podrida (section reference 1917) one called "Potatoes", and the other "Explained!". Both of these are rather more humorous.