Friday, June 14, 2013

My Hero




                                              When I go home across the hills at evening
                                               My little flock of memories gather in
                                               A gentle peace and quietness will settle
                                               I look back and remember my hero once again

                                               The man I always knew and called daddy
                                               That worked so hard to keep us fed
                                               With a wrinkled brow and callused hands
                                               He provided a roof and a place to lay our head

                                               I see him in the garden come early spring
                                               With his overalls on and his favorite hoe
                                               He stayed with it from beginning to end
                                               Nary a weed was allowed to grow

                                               I see him in the winter in the fallen snow
                                               Splitting pine for kindling to start a fire
                                               Gathering in the night's water and wood
                                               In his plaid coat and gloves, his favorite attire

                                               Each day I hear and see him with his dog Toby
                                               I'm going out to the old place, he'd say
                                               As they happily walked through my yard
                                               Oh what a keepsake memory today

                                               I see those big apple trees he planted
                                               Tall just like daddy, oh how they grew
                                               So many treasures I've come to enjoy
                                               When it comes to my daddy, I'm like glue

                                               He'd tell straight out, he never had much school
                                               Couldn't read or write, certainly no degree
                                               The gift of knowledge flowed through his veins
                                               For ninety four years he taught constantly

                                               To all that listened and wanted to know
                                               Wisdom from the most wise is a gift to behold
                                               As my daddy eased on down through life
                                               So much joy came in pouring out his soul

                                               He walked each road, climbed every hill
                                               He knew everybody for miles around
                                               If they didn't know him, they came to know
                                               He owned and had many a stomping ground

                                               So many examples he set before me
                                               So many memories, such good times
                                               From when I was little and even grown
                                               He taught me life's lessons, only he could design

                                               My daddy is now walking and talking in heaven
                                               Up there where fathers are a chosen kind
                                               I'm now left with my precious flock of memories
                                               And my hero's love he gladly left behind

                                                Susie Swanson,2013



Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there
and many Blessings...Susie



                                               

16 comments:

  1. Just Beautiful!!

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  2. This is a wonderful tribute to your Daddy for Father's Day, Susie. Such lovely memories. Have a nice weekend!

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    1. Thank you Daisy. Hope you have a nice weekend as well.

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  3. Hi Susie! What a beautiful tribute to your father. I sure would have liked to meet him. He sounds like a wonderful man and a "character". I love people like that, who as my mother used to say: "Have more personality in their little finger than most people have in their whole bodies!" :) I miss my father too, he passed away in 2002. In his older years, he used to live nearby and would drop by almost every other day or so, about 2:00 p.m. just to visit and have a glass of sweet tea. I miss that very much and often think of him as the afternoon rolls around. Thank you for your beautiful poem Susie, I really feel like I could picture him in his plaid jacket! My Dad had a red flannel plaid jacket too that he always wore in the garage. I keep it hanging on the rocking chair in my kitchen and my husband and I both wear it when we are chilly and it helps us feel close to him still. Have a nice evening ahead! With Love Delisa :)

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    1. Thank you Delisa. I can just see your dad in that plaid jacket. My dad always had his plaid jacket on, sometimes when we thought it was to warm for one but he had bad circulation in his later years and stayed cold a lot. It had to get pretty hot for him not to wear his jacket. I think we all have our own special memories and that's what keeps us going.Hope you enjoy your evening as well.

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  4. How blessed you are, Susie, to have had such a good Daddy! And what precious memories you've shared. Thank you.

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  5. Awww... this made me cry, Susie! I'm still blessed to have my Daddy but both my grandpas have gone on and I miss them both so much.

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    1. Thank you Paula. Didn't mean to make you cry and I'm sorry about your grandpas..

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  6. What a beautiful tribute to your dad, he sounds like he was a very special soul. I'm so happy I still have my dad around!

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    1. Thank you Lise. You cherish every moment as I'm sure you do.

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  7. What a wonderful tribute to a special Dad...He would be so pleased with this, Susie!
    ~God bless~

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    1. Thank you so much Janice.God Bless you to my friend.

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  8. Susie,
    Such fond memories you have of your Father. What a nice way to remember by writing a poem about him. Your "Hero" raised such a special daughter.

    Love,
    ~Sheri

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  9. Hi Susie! Just thought I would pop by this morning and say hello. I hope you are having a good week. It sure has been raining down our way too. It has been rolling in just about every afternoon with lots of thunder and lightening. It would be cozy if I wasn't worried about Tony driving home from work in it and the power going out. It's hard to plan dinner, when I don't know if my electric stove is going to working! :) We lose everything when the power goes including our well pump. I often think about how it must have for people living here in the old days and then I feel so bad for complaining! :) I can't imagine how they functioned in the summer time in all the humidity. They were certainly a hardy people. Other than the weather excitement it has been a pretty quiet week. I hope you are continuing to feel better my friend and that you have a lovely day ahead! With Love, Delisa :)

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