[CW] CW Forever

[David J. Ring, Jr.]

This has been posted several places around the internet also, it is a 
copyright poem by WA1TBY but he told me I could use years ago as long as I 
gave him credit.

Jim was a former Chief Radioman in the USN and active for many years in EMRI 
(Eastern Mass. Rhode Island CW Net), 1RN, EAN and TCC.

I think it helps me remember how CW operators like Jim filled me with 
admiration, of the craft and art of morse code, with their generous 
contributions to amateur radio of both time and effort and the love that 
they instilled in the new comer and experienced operator alike.

Why?  Because his effort and that of every CW operator I've ever known worth 
the license he holds has spent many hours - passing his knowledge on.  This 
is the very life blood of amateur radio: Love of radio.

CW FOREVER


You must have at time, thought into the past,
Where some things go out, while others last,
What comes to my mind is the Old Morse Code,
That has weathered the storms from any abode,

To talk with ones fingers, is surely an art,
Of any info you care to impart,
In most conditions the signals get thru,
While the same about phone is simply not true.

Those dits and dahs cut through the trash,
Of nearby noise or lightning's crash,
To the sensitive ears of the ham receiver,
Who records this data with ardent fever.

He knows he's doing something unique,
(in such poor conditions, that's quite a feat!)
To roger the message that came off the air,
These brass pounders sure do have that flair.

They say Morse ops are a dying breed,
But don't despair, there's always that need,
That when conditions get rough for the new automation,
Be rest assured, there'll be need for your station.

CW is dying? Believe it never,
This mode will be 'round forever and ever,
But one thing is sure, what we really need,
Is to relay our knowledge to the younger breed.

To carry the torch, long after we're gone,
To send Morse Code thru the air like a song,
When at last, Silent Keys pull that final lever,
We can rest in peace, it's CW FOREVER!

Jim Hatherley, WA1TBY, 7/4/85
Jim became a silent key in 2000.