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My Papa
We laughed at the garbage
you collected in your back yard,
But you were the
master of the ultimate Aesthetic, the One True Art:
How to de-junk the
interior terrain, getting rid of the garage that clutters up the heart.
You taught us
there was nothing we couldn't do, to always say, “I can.”
But you taught us,
too, deal with defeat,
That the number of
mistakes he makes is the True Measure of a Man.
Then you taught us
how to stand up again, to try once more, to stay
“Get back on the
horse and ride.
“What da Sam Hill’s
the matter wit’cha anyway!”
You showed us how
to live our lives with dignity and pride
But the greatest
lesson was the laughter we shared
On the very day
you died.
You were always
firm in your beliefs: “My mind’s made
up.”
But you were
always ready to add another page, to take another look.
“Write it in the
book, Ma. Write it in the book.”
You knew the road
that Cain had walked, the sorrow, the despair.
It made your heart
a refuge for those worn and ragged with life’s care.
You demonstrated
what living in Christ really means
By living in
Christ, unconditionally accepting every man you met.
Enjoying rejoicing
in the whole of him: “No buts about it.”
You taught us all
that there really is a pony under every pile of shit,
And you showed us
how to find it.
You patiently demonstrated
it for us every live long day,
But your greatest
lesson was the laughter you shared
As your life was
ebbing away.
You showed us how
to weep, and how to touch each other, tenderly, to care.
You taught us how
to work, to shoulder the load, to bear.
You showed us how
to laugh and love and share.
You taught us to
accept the stones, chin high, back straight.
You taught us to exalt
in the musty aroma of dirt,
The strength of
tears, the sweet smell of sweat.
Those scarred and
calloused hands are a gift that will be our guide
Hands so great and
gentle that my pain got lost inside.
But the greatest
gifts were those moments of joy
On those days
before you died.
You blazed a trail
for us to follow
We may get lost
along the way,
But we’ll meet you
once again, anyhow, some day.
