# "Old Uncle Axel Is Dead Tonight"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-uncle-axel-is-dead-tonight/781184>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 2, 2017, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-uncle-axel-is-dead-tonight/781184 "2017-03-02T06:54:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-uncle-axel-is-dead-tonight/781184/1 "2017-03-02T06:54:47Z")

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I heard this poem back in my high school English class, but I can’t remember all of it. All I remember is that he used to sit in his rocking chair in the corner, nursing his arthritis, and now the whole family has gathered to admire the potted plant (an orchid, I think) that’s taken his place.

Does this ring a bell with anyone?

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**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-uncle-axel-is-dead-tonight/781184/2 "2017-03-02T12:53:44Z")

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Is this it?:

[https://books.google.com/books?id=3gteAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false](https://books.google.com/books?id=3gteAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-uncle-axel-is-dead-tonight/781184/3 "2017-03-02T13:46:52Z")

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> [@x-ray\_vision](#):
>
> Is this it?:
> 
> [Axel. A poem. [By E. Tegnér.] Translated from the Swedish by the Rev. R ... - Google Books](https://books.google.com/books?id=3gteAAAAcAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false)

Definitely not.

The one I’m thinking of was probably written around 1970 and is only about half a page long.

My English teacher thought the family had gathered for the funeral, but I pointed out they were only there to give their opinion on the potted plant.

“Oh, my God, you’re right!” :eek: :smack:

It was “that kind” of poem.