The Ballad of Blasphemous Bil

A friend of mine lives in North West Nebraska. She emailed me today with word that they are expecting 10 - 12 inches of snow and temps of -25F. It reminded me of this poem that I listened to 50 years ago on Jean Shepherd's radio show from WOR New York lying in bed with my transistor radio when I was supposed to be asleep.

I took a contract to bury the body of blasphemous Bill MacKie,
Whenever, wherever or whatsoever the manner of death he die —
. . . .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xykolaZAAM

Robert Service and Jean Shepherd, two favorites. I used to listen the same way, to him and to CBS Radio Mystery Theatre.

The Cremation of Sam McGee has always been one of my favorite poems:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeTlcs38MOU

Jean Shepherd - one of life's little pleasures now regrettably gone. There are dozens of clips of his old shows on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=jean+shepherd