TheBanyanTree: One in Remembrance of My Dad

[B Drummond]

   I've had my dad on my mind today.  

    He's always there in some manner, seldom far from many of my thoughts; 
sometimes quiet and unassuming, his voice faint as a whisper like in his last 
few days with us,  sometimes commanding, like he spoke when warning me as a 
child of any imminent dangers, but today, today it was more so than in a long 
while.

   He being there's especially true when it comes to major decisions, or my 
job, or those "matters of the heart".  

   He's been gone for almost 4 years but today, especially so, he's like the 
fog of our early April mornings.  It hangs around making its presence known, 
not forbiding nor forboding anything, just a cloud settled down close to 
earth.  It comes down, hangs around a while and disappears as quietly as it 
came.  Wasn't it Mr Sandburg that said it was on little cat feet?

    And  I came across this poem today that so reminds me of him that I felt 
he sat beside me again as I read this.  I ask your indulgence in sharing it.


        HAILSTORM

        Colen H Sweeten Jr


I remember the deafening roar,
The wavering fields of wheat,
The huddled family---
A sudden chilling of the July heat,
And fear in my father's eyes---
My father who kicked badgers
And laughed at broncos!
Mother quietly put her arms around him
As if she feared that he might rush,
Bare-fisted, to battle the icy pellets.
I remember my father's eyes, filled
With tears as big as toadstools.
Icy tears which just hung there.
There was too much pride to fall,
And too much hurt to retreat.
And then our harvest was over.
Our valley was still, oh, so still.

Soon the hurt was healing.
There was no bitterness.
There was no blame.
I knew my parents still trusted God.

Now, in the quiet of my own hailstorms,
When I alone am aware of the roar,
I feel a strength from that old scar,
And find courage born of faith,
Not of understanding.


In remembrance of you, Dad.


    bd
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