Dad Poem by Shirley Hanley

It comes in waves, the pain of loss
the pain of your passing,

like a tide washing ashore
covering me with pieces of memory...
fragmented glimpses of past emotion.

Joy, pride, sorrow...
they are all in attendance.

You were loved.

We came from far and wide...
gathering together in vigilance
around your hospice bed.

I held your hand...
it was warm and ever so familiar...
the hand I'd known these 69 years.

It was the hand that helped me
saddle a horse and handed me the
reins to my life...

It was the hand that held back
[many a time]
from striking my buttocks with
a well deserved blow...

It was the hand that built houses,
dug postholes and created a myriad
of self made contraptions...

It was the hand that lifted me
to the safety of that closet shelf
when mom threatened with her
tape adorned ruler to 'bust my butt'...

It was the hand that strummed
the guitar that accompanied your
deep, resonant voice as you entertained
with a song...

How I loved your voice
[I heard myself thinking]
as I looked upon your
peaceful, serene face...

There you lie... eyes closed
lost to dreams
only you and your God know...

I give thanks to that God
for having known you.
I love you Dad...

See you again
somewhere in time,
Shirl...

7/12/10
by Shirley Jean Hanley