my dad

I think of the love that I saw in his eyes;
A godly love given without compromise.
I recall all the times that he stood by my side,
Encouraged me on with such warmth and such pride.

His voice full of kindness, was firm but yet fair;
He spoke with great tenderness, patience and care.
His workingman hands were so strong and so sure,
I knew there was nothing we could not endure.

His work on the railroad, exhausting and hot,
Was work he must do if he liked it or not.
His needs were quite simple, just family and friends;
He never was swayed by new fashions and trends.

It's true, that some others provided insight,
But he laid the foundation that kept me upright.
The dearest of fathers to live on this earth,
Though he wasn't royal by wealth or by birth.

A man of great dignity, honor and strength;
For even a stranger, he'd go any length.
Far greater than any man most people know,
My Dad was my mentor, my friend, my hero.

© 2006  Mariane Holbrook
Used with permission

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Midi playing ~ "The Water Is Wide"
Traditional English Folktune sequenced by Barry Taylor