What Was It That He Said Poem by Francie Lynch

They've gathered at his daughter's house,
I passed cars pulling to the curb;
The patriarch has been replaced,
His chair now sits usurped.

Will someone raise a glass to toast him,
Recount some craic to roast him?
Praise his assets,
Shush his regrets,
Strum his unplayed guitar.

They'll share feasts on his bench,
Conceive on handmade beds,
Take down a book from his many shelves,
And talk as though he's there,
Sleeping, unaware.

'What was it that he said?
He talked of love a lot.
Did he get it right?
He shared what he got.
Did well for a sot.
He could turn a spade,
Write a verse,
Right a wrong,
Could dialogue with who knows what,
And if he couldn't fix it,
We knew we were screwed.'

They just might go to sleep tonight,
And dream as though he's there,
Still sitting in his chair.