This poem was written in 1997 by Raymond Mathew Niessen, aged 14. It was submitted by his mother, Susan Swanson.
A Ballad in Memory of My Uncle Ray
If you wanted to know how my name came to be
It came from a sad family tragedy
21 years old, a mechanic at heart
A beautiful fiancee he would now sadly part
He was kind and strong all of his days
Everybody loved my uncle Ray
His life was taken so very fast
Killed by a drunk driver,
This day was his last
He was born in a country so far away
Now his home Canada he would stay
To build his life's dream for all to see
Now would only be memories that were once to be
His life was so short, there was much to know
One often wonders where the time does go
When only a picture is left in his place
Memories still linger of his kind friendly face
If people would only take time to think
Before they get in a car after they drink
One person's life could have been spared
If only this foolish person cared
But now I'm proud to carry his name
I'll try my best to never put it to shame
To work hard and be kind every day
Sure makes me proud that my name is Ray
Raymond Mathew Niessen
1997
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