The magazine ad made it sound like fun,
Just send in a poem. It only takes one.
Pick your own subject, and once you are done,
Include a SASE. Find out if you won!
I had everything except the SASE.
My poem was completed, and I was well pleased.
I'll submit it and win the contest with ease.
All that was stopping me, was that SASE.
What is a SASE? It had to be small
to go through the mail. This would be my downfall!
What did one look like? Did I have one at all?
Google wasn't here yet. There was no one to call.
William Frost must have had one, and Mr. Poe.
The deadline was close, and my poem had to go, so
I put a new stamp on a new envelope,
And wrote my address where the "where to" address goes.
Sullen and sad, I sealed it all up with a tear.
Will they disqualify me? That was my fear.
I'll get that SASE, and I'll keep it near.
Maybe I'll have one by this time next year !
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
** This seed was planted for this silly poem in 1985, and it finally germinated 35 years later. Back in 1985. I was a student in a Creative Writing class taught by Mr. Weldon Payne at Motlow college. The discussion that day involved sending your work off to be considered for publication. Mr. Payne told us to send a self addressed stamped envelope in order to receive back either a rejection letter, or a hopefully, a more positive response. I don't recall Mr. Payne using the abbreviated term, SASE.
A short time later, I was in the process of sending something off to a magazine with hopes of publication. They asked that I send my SASE. For a moment, I had no idea what that was. There was no google or Bing yet. I quickly figured it out, and had a good laugh at myself. Not long after that, I saw Mr. Payne, and we talked about that experience. I remember saying to him, "I knew I had a B.S. from UTM, but for the life of me, I didn't have a SASE. We laughed, and talked about other quirky things that are easily misunderstood.
As the years rolled by, I read and followed Weldon's weekly article, "Through the Payne". Oftentimes this was about his children and grandchildren, or what ever was amusing or puzzling him at the time.
Recently, Scott told me his father, Weldon, is living in the nursing home in Manchester, dealing with age related issues.
My memory took me back to that day in his creative writing class. This silly poem began there. 35 years later, it was written and included here, with the hope that we can all smile and laugh a little, in Weldon's honor.
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The photo, link, and obituary added May 2022.
His Obituary is below. Copied from the thunder Radio website...
https://thunder1320.com/weldon-payne-longtime-newsman-columnist-and-author-passes-away/
Vernon Weldon Payne, 92, of Manchester, TN died onWednesday, April 6, 2022. He was born in Thrifty, TX on February 13, 1930
to Millard Vernon and Martha Jane Payne, and was married to Barbara Payne
for 65 years. He spent most of his childhood in Apex, AL and following
employment in the Fairfield, AL steel mills, he served in the United States
Navy during the Korean War. Traveling the world on the USS Daly and the USS
Caperton, both destroyers, was a highlight of his life and is where he
started a newspaper for the sailors, as he worked in the ship office,
reporting to the commanding officer.
Following his military service, Weldon graduated with a B.A degree from the
University of Alabama where he majored in journalism and fiction writing.
It was at Bama where he met and wed Barbara Bridges from MS who was then
teaching at MS College. Weldon was a licensed barber while attending the
university.
Weldon was a gifted writer, artist, teacher, and newspaper man. He worked
for the Jackson Daily News in MS, Nashville Banner, Huntsville Times,
Associated Press in Birmingham, AL, and Tullahoma News. Beginning in 1962,
he served as editor and publisher of the Manchester Times for 17 years.
For over ten years, he taught numerous courses at Motlow Community College
and finished his career in Public Relations and Communications for
University of Tennessee Space Institute. It was here that he wrote the
published history of UTSI’s first 25 years.
Beginning in college and spanning over 55 years, Weldon wrote a weekly
column, Through the Pane, in local and Southeastern newspapers with wide
ranging topics including ordinary life experiences and reactions to daily
events. He published several works of fiction and collections of columns
and stories, including A Taste of Time. His stone carvings have been
exhibited at the Parthenon Museum in Nashville, TN as well as other venues.
Mr. Payne enjoyed quail hunting dogs, fishing, good literature, water
color, oils, and pastel painting, stone carving, plays, sunsets and he
loved his family. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Manchester.
Weldon is survived by his wife, Barbara, and three children and their
spouses: Chris and Cherry Payne, Gainesville, FL; Scott and Valerie Payne,
Goodlettsville, TN, and Jill and Hunt Dunlap, Macomb, IL. Weldon and
Barbara have eight grandchildren, Caroline Purvis (DeWayne), Alex Payne
(Staci), Kaitlin Maple (Conner), Oliver Payne (Savannah), Charlotte Payne,
Elliot Payne, Laura Dunlap, and Sarah Dunlap. There are ten
great-grandchildren, Claire Payne, Kennedy Purvis, Harper Payne, Nathaniel
Payne, Grant Purvis, Hayden Maple, Isaac Payne, Ivan Payne, Carter Purvis,
Quinn Maple. Weldon has one sister, Dr. Doris Carney, Manchester. His
parents Millard and Martha Payne and two other sisters, Ione and Pauline
and his two brothers Talmadge and Buddy are deceased, as well as a great-
grandson, Jackson Purvis.
Visitation with the family will be held on Saturday, April 9, 2022, from
12noon until 2:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral
services will be conducted immediately following visitation at 2:00pm with
Dr. Brenton Cox officiating. Burial will follow at Concord Cemetery in
Tullahoma, TN. Donations to Alzheimer’s TN (South Central TN Office, 207 N.
Jackson Street, Tullahoma, TN 37388) are appreciated. Donations can also
be made to First Baptist Church, Manchester, TN.