Dad's Lesson

For years I watched you toil Modestly and unpretentiously Life’s ups and downs Not changing you one iota A solid man With your integrity intact No matter what came your way Being your own master And your own judge Demanding and fair Your heart into everything you did You led by example With principles and ethics That’s how I learned the most valuable lesson The one worth learning most of all At the end of this whirlwind journey we call life We will all stand alone to face our Maker And show the integrity that’s in our heart Published in my 24-page photo/anthology ~A SIMPLE MAN~ 2020 Submitted on October 8, 2018 for contest IN RESPONSE TO IF (RUDYARD KIPLING'S FAMOUS POEM 'IF') sponsored by SILENT ONE - RANKED 2ND