June 17, 2007
Sitting on the front porch steps
I looked at the man
The weathered skin
The squinted eyes
Listening to him speak as he stared
Into the distance
Never flinching
As he reminisced
He told me of times past
When he was young
Happy times
The war had ended
He came home to his wife
His first born greeted him
The smile on his face at that moment
Told me all I needed to know
That this man, though strong
Was a person with heart
A person with feelings
That required the many
Touches of life
That only others could provide
Though older now
Not looking like the boy
He described in his stories
The man he was to become
He now resembles
A man of leather
Where nothing could permeate
But I can see how
My tone, my questions
Entered his mind
And how he spoke through his heart
Daddy,
As another father’s day
Comes and goes
I think back to my youth
Listening to you
Your stories
Your music on the violin
I smile, knowing
That I touched you
As the memories
Of you touch me now
I love you
As you look down
From the heavens above
I wish to say
I couldn’t have asked
For a better man
To guide me
To be my father
Happy Father’s Day
|