Ode To My Father
“The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature.” Prevost Abbe
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Beneath the vast and endless canvas of night,
A father’s memory, now a distant light,
I yearned for a farewell more profound,
As he journeyed to the world beyond.
From the precipice of destiny, he tumbled low,
His head kissed the ground in a tale of woe,
In a hushed repose, like a withering bloom,
My father’s essence, a flickering candle in the gloom.
In those final days, all memories seemed to disperse,
Forgotten faces, familiar voices, in a universe.
He saw me as a nurse, guiding him through,
A kind stranger helping, a role he thought true.
I showed him photos of our shared moments and glee,
Reminded him of family and friends, but it was a mystery.
To him, we were helpful strangers, caring and kind,
He had forgotten it all, left memories behind.
I wonder, what thoughts swirled in his mind,
Who did he believe himself to be, in that bind?
From distant lands and countries he did speak,
Places vividly remembered, but the faces grew weak.
In a world where memories danced and broke,
Leaving me to wonder, what stories did he invoke?
And then, one day, he took his flight,
Becoming a star, a beacon of light.
In the skies, a symbol of our days of play,
How strong he was, in his gentle way,
For his little girl, he stood so tall,
But there he lay, like a leaf’s slow fall.
I wonder, in the silence of the night,
If he remembers me in that celestial light.
Copyright ©
Sara Etgen-Baker
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