Milk Route, Edmonton Verse 1 The depression in Edmonton Lasted into the war years. Men without work Walked the streets through the thirties, House to house, Asking for a little money Or offering a day’s labour. Many families lived on the dole— City payments for food, No wages coming in. It wasn’t a pleasant place then. There was very little to spare. Verse 2 My father worked through those years As a milkman. In winter the temperature dropped To thirty below with the wind. He rode in an open wagon, No shelter at all. The cream in the bottles froze, Rose above the glass. Verse 3 He started work at five in the morning. He didn’t own a car. He rode a bicycle From south Edmonton To the City Dairies On the north side of the river, Sometimes through heavy snow. After that he crossed the river again With the milk cart, Pulled by a single horse, Delivering to the Garneau district Near the university. Verse 4 While unemployed men marched downtown And families waited for relief money, Milk was delivered Street by street, House by house. The depression continued for civilians Until the end of the war. That’s how it was in Edmonton During those years.
