A dry rope creaking as it rubs against the bough
a strong man, we're both real proud, you'd overcome disease
who wouldn't struggle to know why, or how
what type of human would this sort of action please

crawling on the floor almost further back than I can remember
pulling yourself up on my knee with a smile
tears in my eye, pride, cold out, it's December
praise in heaps and hugs and love on you I pile

bikes, cars, army men and bows made out of sticks
with underwear elastic used for strings
running through the weeds and checking nooks for ticks
what joy to your father your sunny presence brings

you struggled a bit with grades, yeah we all did
it was probably in your genes, like mine
but through it all, you were always a good kid
rarely stepped over it, but always rode that line

A strange feeling mix of emptiness and pride that day
you were leaving for school a strong, young man
I was proud to see you standing up, but sad in a silly way
Cried on the inside, but will support you all I can

I wondered probably every day if you'd find what you left here for
and did my best to hide how much I missed you
I didn't tell you what I found today, your growth marks on the door
each line different ink and thickness and a flashback of what you were in to

That day changed my life when you said you felt weak
and the doc told us what it was about
always the strong one, of defeat you'd never speak
my questions for God, swap places, out of anger I shout

you're resilience must have come from your mother
I don't hink I could have had your guts to fight
You're all we ever really had son, no sister or brother
In both of our lives, you were the strongest, bightest light

Its almost funny looking back how scare I was then for you
but always with the encouragement and that quirky smile
you always seemd to calm me down when I didn't know what to do
'hey dad, just relax and sit here with me a while'

The treatments and the drugs and the thousands, it's only debt
i'd sell my soul to keep you here for another day
the tests came back and you said it wasn't your time yet
I was so pissed off at God, but he still must have heard me pray

like it never happened son, you hit the books and were done
you're drive must have come from your mom too
I'd always ask you. 'son, why don't you just slow down and have some fun?'
you'd say 'dad, I've just got too much to do.'

Work and bills and still making it over every week, a couple of days
it amazes me how you're just so damn driven
I'm gettin' so old anymore and set in my ways
son, take time to appreciate the blessing you were given

You had plenty of money, your family was healthy and doing great
I pissed and moaned when you mentioned the other job
Your family's too important son, you'll get home much too late
'Aw come on, dad. I can't sit around all the time. I feel like a lazy slob.'

A thankless job, I told you that, but you believed in what you did
'part of history, what makes this country great, old man.'
It's funny how when you're walking off, I still see my kid
you were just doing your part, you would say, 'doing what you can.'

It's been a few days son, you mom's getting worried
why don't you call and let us know you're alright
I know your life is full, your always late and hurried
that's not the way to treat your old man, come on, son, we're tight

the phone ringing last night was unlike it's ever been
I can't explain how the noise made me feel
on the other end that guy from work, your friend
your mom dropped the receiver, no this can't be real

They said they found your body, son. I can't describe how that sounds to me
it wasn't supposed to end this way
my son, my life, my boy in a tree
for devotion to your country and ideals, such a price to pay

I love you son, I know you can hear me, God speed my sunny boy
not everyone on this planet is full of hate
not everyone on this planet is out to take lives and destroy
who am I trying to kid, this place sucks, I'm afraid it's way too late.




[edit on 23-9-2009 by KSPigpen]

Very good job writing from the perspective of this man's father. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the main players of an unfolding report, that we forget the others that are affected. Thank you for sharing it with us.

I got choked up reading this. Wow!

There is nothing more to say.......

Eloquence.

just had to say this is a great poem, it moved me.

to bad it takes sad things to make us feel like we can relate to eachother,

again thats a great poem, good job,


but sad


but I guess sometimes life is sad

It took me a minute to find this piece. Wonderfully, wonderfully done KS.

So meaningful that I felt the emotions surfacing just under my eyes. Something I noticed with your work in particular KS, is that you really have the ability to summon others emotions and believe me the more emotional, the more it touches everyone. Keep it up friend and you'll have me turned into a emotional wreck in no time!

Really though, this was a wonderful inspiration and really is inspiration to be able to write in such ways. One of these days we should brainstorm something up. I think it would be epic! lol

Looking forward to more of your stuff.

[edit on 24-9-2009 by N3krostatic]