A whisper, no more than...a pause in time.
He left us.
His body, yearning for freedom, took its time...
grasping earth's limitations 'til each beloved one arrived
with
hugs,
weeping
and
fond laughter...
oh, yes.
**********
Humbly unwilling to voice the inner determination,
his life spoke volumes....
Yes, I will work faithfully, providing for my family.
Yes, I will love from my heart, unafraid of sentimentality.
Yes, I can crack-up my family with corny jokes and word-plays.
Yes, I will be a proud WWII Veteran against war.
Yes, I will be here for
my wife,
my children,
my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Yes, I will quietly walk with my God.
**********
Yes, to France, Mt. Whitney and Kentucky.
Yes, to the Grand Canyon, Maine, New York; and D.C.;
to Boston on the Fourth of July!
Yes, to cross-country trips,
graduations, weddings and births.
**********
Yes, to fearlessly striking up meaningful conversations.
From his grand children's friends, to the mail lady.
From fellow hikers,
to the Egyptian gentleman on an unsavory commuter bus
traveling from NYC to Bayone, NJ.
From skinny dippers at the base of the Grand Canyon,
to waitresses at "Helen's Restaurant" in Machias, ME,
and, Mary, our favorite, at the "Depot Diner" in Beverly, MA.
Sincerely interested, his humble, inclusive demeanor
always resulted in shared dialog,
regardless of opinions, lifestyles or religious views.
Yes, to treasured interactions...yes.
**********
A Christmas Eve whisper...a breath...a pause in time.
He left us.
A cachexic body, longing for its freedom...slipped away.
Beyond our grief, the world rushes on...
Yet, in quietness,
eternal integrates into mortal,
infusing each of us with his blessed YES,
now...and forevermore.
Ginny, your father lives in your both breath taking and giving words! I never had the pleasure of meeting him, but feel as if I know him after reading this.
ReplyDeleteThis piece resounds in my heart as in the spirit of my favorite work...are you familiar with e.e. cummings? His #65 (the reference made in the title of my blog!):
i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky;and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun's birthday;this is the birth
day of life and love and wings:and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any--lifted from the no
of all nothing--human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
----
Peace be with you and your family as it is with your father! Love and prayers,
Emily
http://alongroute65.blogspot.com/