More thoughts on my dad - Father's Day 2010

My Fathers’ Son

I am in truth my fathers’ son
Born of a long and storied line
Not one of whom was grand or famed
But all became the man I am

In life they strived to build their weal
To help their own, to ward their homes
In life they strived for Kin and kith
That Worth might come and make their name

We find that we have many roles
Which come to us within our years
Child, sibling, partner, parent
Friend or foe, teacher or taught

Upon my hand there is a ring
White gold it is, plain thin and old
It sat upon my father’s hand
A sign of Troth when he was wed

He was a man who seldom spoke
But words he gave were rich and wise
He was a man who seemed withdrawn
But gave of self when need was there

His work was hard, his days were long
But seldom did he stay away
From home and hearth, from wife and kids
He knew his place was in our lives

And as years passed, the world did change
But not his care for family
Nor for his friends, or for his deeds
As he worked in community

He lived to see his children wed
Some well, some not, but all survived
And from this he saw grandchildren
To carry on the long Kin-line

And at the end of all his years
When illness laid him weak and low
He took the hit, but carried on
And sang his last few days away

And as we stood on sacred grounds
Where kin-bones slept beneath the sod
And as we laid him in his grave
My thoughts flew high, and far and wide

I looked to hills he loved to roam
Beneath the trees beside the stream
A place he shared with many boys
My sib and I foremost of these

So long old scout, your time has come
To walk those trails, unseen, unknown
Beyond the bounds of daily life
A new frontier to seek and see

I am in truth my fathers’ son
Born of a long and storied line
Not one of whom was grand or famed
But all became the man I am

In life they strived to build their weal
To help their own, to ward their home
In life they strived for Kin and kith
That Worth might come and make their name

(January 2011 -  Dad's Wedding Ring...which was mentioned in this poem...I lost it when I was blown off the road during bad storm conditions on my way to work.

I was trying to dig out the tail pipe, so I wouldn't smother myself by running the engine from time to time to keep warm. My glove came off, as did the ring...)