Recalling My Dad
My father and I in a long time past
played cards at the table and he would pause
to tell me a tale when he was young
as he did so many times before
but the stories would change
as he would rearrange
his life as a youth in the land of his birth
from Calabria to the Great White Way
as a merchant marine he sailed under the sun
and a rugged sargeant in World War One
wounded and gassed in a battle in France
medals of war and memories of grief
the war soon ended to give some relief
determined to find his place in the sun
Then he met Joe in a factory
who liked him a lot
he met Jenny, his sister
The belle of Salerno
his favorite spot
he pledged his vows and they were wed
together they bonded to share the bread
of life and its trials
what the world had to give
they raised six kids and a nice place to live
the kids grew up and were not there to stay
they raised kids of their own
but not far away
they would come on Sundays
for the traditional feast
of pasta and wine and delicious meats
But soon time passed and Mom got sick
we would all stay with Pop
as we all took turns
Mom got better now Pop was ill
he started to take the solace of pills
he needed help getting washed
and I’ll never forget
what he always said when I bathed him
as if on cue
when you get old, son, I’ll bathe you
he would still reminisce about the past
but he died one day
there was so much to know
his life became a mystery
because I never asked when I was young
when my father and I played cards
at the table in a long time past
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Copyright © Ralph Sergi | Year Posted 2014
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