Around the world in 80 years
Ode to my Dad
To sum up Dad’s life at this great age
To see the knit between,
What a man says and what a man does
He’s hit that Golden Mean.
He’s hammered out a life of fortune
A house, a boat or two.
A hard working time and motion man
Just between me and you.
You always know where he stands on things
When oft you hear him speak,
Those big Playne eyes on stalks: What do
You think this is? Bush Week?
You’ll find him in the garage mostly
Dressed in his King Gees,
Welding, moulding, making God knows what,
It will be the bee’s knees.
The years present their challenge
To which he fights and rails.
“When I’m dictator that’ll change”
One more letter he will mail.
Surprisingly age has wearied him
He’s joined the mortals with our naps.
He’s seen the docs at great expense
And complained about the gaps.
But the wise joy I see often
Is the look upon his face,
Of a man who let life soften him
To share its loving grace.
What, then, is his guiding star?
His map for me and you?
None other than the ancient Bard:
To thine own self be true.
March 2015
