Tribute Poem, Dedicated To Memory of Our Loving Father

Tribute Poem, Dedicated To Memory Of Our Loving Father ( 1901- 1968 ) A man of great courage and iron nerve as a youth into trouble he would swerve some had called him, brute, rascal or knave yet none ever stated he was not brave. With strength God given and proud Southern born. Always between two worlds his soul was torn. As a kind and honest man he was tops a father, a farmer proud of his crops with labor and sweat falling from his brow he taught us all, to love, by showing how. With strength God given and proud Southern born. Always between two worlds his soul was torn. Swearing family was Hope and Treasure gave us love, always in equal measure made us swear to defend family name taught us respect, asking only the same. With strength God given and proud Southern born. Always between two worlds his soul was torn. Life had never been easy, nor his friend he lived it well, right up until the end as a giant, one we did so admire a hero, our hopes he did so inspire. With strength God given and proud Southern born. Always between two worlds his soul was torn. When his death came it was in peaceful sleep pray we safe journey, his soul Heaven keeps he died on the same day as of his birth for sixty-eight years, showing us Love's worth. With strength God given and proud Southern born. Always between two worlds his soul was torn. R.J. Lindley, May 27th, 1973 Rhyme, (Dedication to our father) Note- Our father passed away in 1969 on the morning of his birth, exactly 68 years old to the day. Syllables Per Line: 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 0 10 10 10 10 0 10 10 Total # Syllables: 300 Total # Words: 240 Note, today : 9-24-2019 (50 years after father's death.. I have decided to present this poem, taken from my private journal. Written when I was a mere lad of nineteen years young. Five years after father's death and during my first year of marriage to my first wife. Nothing in my life has ever affected or hurt me more than his dying. I was fifteen years old and to me he was everything. After his death, I went into a nineteen year long battle against this dark world- lived a wild youth, fought many, many fights, endured many sorrows and somehow lived to tell the tale. Now blessed with loving family, great friends and the blessing of having found poetry to be a true and marvelous treasure to read, compose and gift to others. ""Et hoc modo orandi, cum vero corde orant, Caritatem Deus tuus benedixerit mihi omnis longa dies, Atque divina iura pace locus tuus manum meam navem Olim te in Caelo, oro te anima mea et lapsum.""