Terrell Martin Poet Free verse

I Never Really Knew My Dad

I Never Really Knew My Dad (A Memorial Day Tribute) 

I never really knew my dad
As well as I wish I might;
He was a sailor in World War II
In the great Pacific fight.  

He survived the war but died before 
I ever got to ask;
About all the battles and hellish days 
He carried in his past.

I thought I knew him well enough 
As a child still having dreams;
But I never thought enough to ask 
How he fought and what he’d seen.

Quiet in composure
A father for all times;
Had he not survived and married my mother
These words would not be mine.

Had he not survived Pearl Harbor, 
Kwajalein  or Guadalcanal,
Had his ship been sunk at Midway
I wouldn’t be here now. 

To share these thoughts of thankfulness 
For what he and others did;
Risking their lives, futures, fortunes and love 
Giving all they had to give.  

And when it all was over 
And he finally came back home;
He never shared those memories 
Save for some late night groans. 

I once heard when he was sleeping
Then waking up in tears;
I never really knew my dad 
And all his war-time fears.  

But here I am because of him 
And the woman he loved true;
Because of them a family
And these thoughts I give to you…

Never was a better man 
Than he who raised me up;
And never spoke of what he saw
Or drank from his life’s cup.   


Never will I have the chance 
To ask him once again;
What happened on the battlefields
To you and all your friends?

Did you hear the screams of shattered dreams 
And final, goodbye breaths;
Did you march in the parade of victory
Or lie under the stars and rest?

I’ll never get the chance to ask
At least not in this life;
But pray I will when the next rolls ‘round
And we both walk in the light…

With our mother, sisters and brothers 
Family all with fallen friends;
I never really knew my dad
But surely will someday, again.  

©Terrell Martin, Memorial Day, 2019

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Kim Rodrigues February 11, 2025 at 11:12 AM There are parts we don’t know. When my mom died, my Dad made a one hour video of her set to romantic 50’s and 60’s music. It made me think, she was more than my mother…she was a wife/lover, a sister, a friend, etc… Who was this woman? I circled back around, ‘she was my mom.’ Thanks to your father for his service, not forgotten, honored, a hero.