A Poem to Dad

Dad you've been gone these many years
long enough there are no tears

For time has eased the pain of death
-over twenty years since your last breath

But I remember you so well
you were full of life and a little hell

The things you had the things you did
I watched you since I was a kid

Tractors, rototillers, pumps,
logging chains, and pulling stumps

Chainsaws, mowers, felling trees
mighty oaks brought to their knees

A buzz saw cutting cords of wood
by power lines where trees once stood

Saturday morning coffee sipped
next door at Joe's rarely skipped

You too had cars on your mind
Caddy's, Buick's and Lincolns fine

You had a fleet of camping vans
one after another until none ran

Attending church you loved your God
the sermon brought a sleepy nod

Talking shop with Uncle Floyd
He could make you quite annoyed

For Continental was the place
where you were boss- it was your space

Generous almost to a fault
your money wasn't in your vault

It often payed someone else's bill
for saying no was not your skill

A jolly grandpa you could be
with little ones upon your knee

Silly songs you would sing
to even big kids a smile it'd bring

But you wore down your body tired
your healthy days had expired

In time sickness had it's way
and off to heaven you went one day

So we are left with memories
of one strong trunk in our family tree

And now we walk the very road
where years ago your footsteps strode

So thank you Dad for all you were
you left your mark on us for sure