For My Father Who Died 8 Yrs. Ago At Midnight Tonight... Poem by Frank James Ryan Jr...fjr

September first, two-thousand-eight,
my own personal day of 'Infamy'
though i'm grown and self-sufficient
and have always walked a private path
that many would deem 'reclusive'...
still i miss my lifetime mentor,
the one who was there whenever my one-ness
broke from its ossified shell
if only for a few minutes or so.

We had our share of twelve round bouts
just like all best-friends do
yet in the end, the support was steel
and in my corner he'd always be
with towel and bucket in hand
and he always made me feel
that he'd have it no different.

As Heroe's go in my life
there was Gherig, Mantle, Roosevelt, Reagan,
Mother Theresa and John Paul II....
AND MY FATHER....
hope he understood
every moment
he spent on Earth
were moments.... i cherished sweet...
just knowing he was always there.

He is gone now,
his ashes deep
beneath
all he appreciated in his Life
as my Father embraced all things
that Life had to offer each day
'til the day he left
to go where the 'good' all go.

And, i hear him, i can feel him, still-
sometimes late at night
when i 'm thinking 'bout
decisions, business, quandaries-
my Father was a grand master expert
at the fine art of'Problem Solving'
especially when it came
to his most stressful problem...
which be ME!
Then, suddenly an idea will nudge my Brain
and a good night sleep always follows.

Still the phone calls-
the man to mans
and the scent of Aqua Velva
are gone
for now....anyway
and though i'm grown
and self-sufficient
how i miss those calls -
think i miss that most,
yes, i do.

For My Father, Hero & Best Friend
_______Frank J. Ryan, Sr.________
July 20 th,1922 - September 1st,2008





©Frank James Ryan, Jr./ FjR
MMVIII-All Rights Reserved

©Frank James Ryan, Jr./ FjR
MMXVI-All Rights Reserved