My Dad

My Dad By Curtis Johnson In all appearances, his feet were firmly planted in our southern home town It seemed clear that daddy’s life was fixed and fashioned on the grounds of Dixie But I’m also certain, there were times I heard his heart beating a different sound A hard working dad and a stay-at-home mom: all respectables A live-in grand mom, obedient children, and a dog name jack, a quiet place for kids to live, grow, and thrive: all commendables Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation: all predictables Church, school, work, and information: all expectables Yes, stability was the real McCoy in my family. Everything and everybody, Like the steady ticking of a clock, stayed basically the same day after day. Sameness was a staple; newness was rare; change is what we longed for. A change of place, to explore the human race A change of pace, to catch the sands of time A change of faze, to rise to higher levels A change of ways, to reach new destinies A change of plans, to find our purpose A change of focus, to chart our course Yes, change is what our hearts were longing for We knew that ‘sameness’ was always given the more But we also knew that ‘change’ would someday Come a knocking at our door It may be true that daddy’s feet were fashioned, fixed, and planted Perhaps he was dreaming, and in his mind, he saw something more It seemed for sure that his soul was charting a different course, Because we often heard him say, “I’m going out west where the Eagles build their nest”. I do not know if my dad was being poetic, or if he really desired A different land. But I do believe that he was longing for change And I believe that daddy longed for a fresh touch of God’s hands And I believe that his soul was uttering, “I’m longing to know the Master’s plan. cj06162007