Remembering Dad Poem by Vinod Narayan

I realize now that I have spent more time
Without him than time with him
Life has pulled on faster than I know
Leaving its traces only in my thoughts
And yet another father’s day comes by

Bringing with it some fond memories
A few drops of tears,
a deep sense of lose somewhere in my heart
The moments I wish would have never ended
With the person I always wish could still be with me

It has been a long twenty years
And it all seems like just yesterday
I could see that smiling face
The jokes he cracked to make the family laugh

Some of the jokes did make our mom frown
For he never thought anything inappropriate
We kids loved him like there was no tomorrow
For he acknowledged the grownups we wanted to be
and always showed us the kid he could be

And then a day in life the truth meets you
it comes into your life uninvited and uncalled
Gets stuck with you for the rest of your life

An evening years ago, and Dad was not home
He was traveling out of town as I remember
A call came and I heard some mumbling
I could hear them say a few words
Sick, hospital, and then finally his name

I was too young to panic that time
But my mom as usual worried for the worst
I told her it would be nothing at all
But she insisted that we all sit and pray

I wish I was right and she was wrong
Just one time that one single time
But she was right as always she is

The next day morning
They brought dad back
But the smile in him, the life in him
had left its abode and traveled on forever

I still remember the day he was traveling
I and my mates playing cricket as usual
He walked by me and patted on my back
“I am going but see you on Monday”
“Will be here before you’re awake”
He said that and walked off to the streets

I still wait for that one Monday
And I know it will never come
I know I can spend Father’s day year after year
And It is only the memories that will be there
Not him, not any more

I love you Dad….