Birthday Coming Up....Dear Dad Poem by ritty patnaik

close to my heart,
all along,
you have been there.
dear dad,
part of my life,
the best time perhaps,
was spent with you.
but a parting,
i could never think of
or forget.

your hard exterior, was
a front for everyone,
but i have seen
love in your eyes,
unexpressed in gestures.

they, called you big chief,
thundercloud,
you were esteemed
the best officer,
in uniform.,
inspite your brusque nature,
and strong will power.

for me lots of love
underneath
showed your
careing heart,
misunderstood by many..

dear dad...
what we are now,
the strong values, you instilled,
with iron hands,
is paying off today!

to be truth ful in life,
just, and caring,
to be honest, in all times,
has taught us,
some strange lessons.

what you gave us
was all you had.
nothing you wanted,
except love and togetherness.,
in the family.

when i went off,
i took the aroma of cigars,
and cloves,
your twinkling eyes
when you joked,
your zest to live and love,
strength for acceptance of pain.
yes dad, i see you in myself
and my sister.

when i think, with pity,
i have no one,
in a hour of gloom,
i tell myself,
am i not a part of you?
so dear dad you live with me
forever!


written for dads b'day...4th sept