Then Fate Took It's Turn

My hero to me, was just a simple man He was ill throughout his life, but he raised two sons Two jobs he held down until he couldn't anymore Then fate took it's turn, and turned his heart sore First was the youngest, on a broken bottle he fell His artery slashed, was the start of his hell I recovered from my trauma, nearly losing my life But my accident increased, his ill health into strife Over the next two years he was hospitalised His sons fostered out, in fatherless cries To children's homes they went, from pillar to post Yearning for the person, who loved them the most He gradually recovered, we became a family again Once again fate took it's turn, returning life's pain On a Monday night back in nineteen sixty nine What every parent dreads, returned him to ill health decline His two boys excited, joining the local Boy's Brigade Running as fast as they could, for time to be made The older was faster, he ran well ahead The younger lagging behind, his little legs so delayed On turning the corner, all I could see Was my older brother, running well ahead of me Without looking left or right, onto the street he ran A split second later, he was hit by a van My life entered slow motion, whilst I witnessed it all To see your brother knocked down, a sibling to fall He was caught under the van and dragged down the street At seven years old, too terrified to greet Over the next six years, his heath gradually became worse He was more in hospital, in illness immersed That's why he is my hero, to my lost brother and me He's the kind of man that I've turned out to be He had no quality of life, but what he gave meant more The love for his two boys all through his life's sores Holding down two jobs through illness and strife Admirable, that's just a word, he gave me my life My entry for Crystal Wilkins contest 'My Hero'