Farewell Good Man

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Poems

Farewell Good Man

Poem by Lisa Anderson

One peaceful night in moonlight pale,

The captain of a certain ship set sail,

for distant lands he'd never seen, where

others he'd known had long since been.

Take care my son, his mother cried,

her heart just swelled with love and pride.

Dorry worry Dear Lady, he replied,

you've taught me to be brave inside.

Then his daughter; her eyes streaming with tears said,

"Daddy I'll miss you so much. Please dont go.

Her Father drew a deep breath to be strong, and told her he loved her so.

He smiled at her and kissed her cheek, took in the sight of her face. So precious to him that he etched in his mind for another time and place.

His son stepped up and said, "Dad, I wish I could make you stay. I know you've always been there for me, there must be some other way?

His throat was tight, and eyes were bright with barely contained tears. "I wish so badly that you and I could make up for a few lost years."

His Father looked at him then with a sigh

he gently asked his son, "But why?"

Our times were special. Our times have been good, so look at this the way we should.

A Father's loves isnt measured by years or miles,

its there through the memories and the smiles.

You know these have certainly been more than a few, and I'm so happy to have shared them with you. He pulled his son into a warm embrace, then the other son came to stand in his place.

"Dad" he said," I dont understand. If we're saying goodbye, I dont think I can. I've tried to be helpful and do what I should. We've been side by side through the bad times and good. "What will it be like without you around?" Then his words faltered, he looked at the ground. His Father said

"Well son" a certain lilt to his voice, "Saying goodbye is not really my choice. "You have been honorable, thoughtful and strong. The man that I knew you would be all along. Goodbyes are filled with too much pain, so shall we'll just say 'till we meet again."

Carry on with the courage I've instilled in your heart. then we will never really be apart." One lonely teardrop rolled down his son's cheek. Though he now understood, was unable to speak, so tenderly reached out to hold him for now, and thought "I'll have to be stronger than ever, somehow"

He turned at this moment to see them there. The ones for whom he's grown to care. Hospitable and friendly as a person can be, he welcomed them into his family. They loved him in a special way and each had things they were longing to say. The need to let someone know just how you feel, suddenly becomes the only thing that is real.

So one of them stayed very near to be sure, incase a warm shoulder was needed of her. The other could only brush his cheek with a kiss and walk quietly away, knowing how much he'd be missed. He was easy to talk to, so quick to grin. We know that someday we will see him again.

Finally he turned to hold his wife. She trembled all over with fear.

"You are my very best friend, my life. You cant possibly leave me here!"

His words to her were softly spoken as they fell upon her ears, "I hope your heart will not be broken, for this is my only real fear."

"The joy we've made I cherish, and the day we became as one."

"Remember this each day my love, with the rising of the sun."

I"In your eyes I see our love is burning strong and true. The Lord who kindled that flame for us, is watching over you"

"So when you need me, close your eyes, and say a little prayer. The Father knows that you are my heart, and you will feel me there."

He held her closely for so long, and both of them would know, an overwhelming struggle for the courage to let go. When at last he broke himself away from their embrace, their eyes locked for a moment and she softly touched his face.

"Mama. Why does Papaw go away?"

"Children it's very hard to say."
"It might be alone, or it may be together but someday we'll all cross over this river."

"One thing's for certain. When the ship meets the shore, Papaw will be very happy once more."

There is someone there waiting he has wanted to see. The same one who gave him to you and me."

To Mother to daughter and sons and wife, we were so blessed to be part of his life."

The wind was with him,

the current was swift.

In no time at all the small boat was adrift.

As they silently watched him sail out of view,

the wind carried back his whisper,

"I love you too"

Lisa Y Anderson age 36.

contact viclisa@hotmail.com

reviews and comments requested.
Posted 9/28/2002

In Memory of September 11

Poem by Melina Reeves

It seemed not so long ago

When the twin towers fell

so many lives were lost

'Twas a sad story to tell

We'll pass it down to our children

The day the terrorists attacked

We'll tell them of the bravery

When the United States fought back

We'll speak of all the firemen

Who fought day and night

To find the missing numbers

who vanished in that fateful flight

We'll tell of the paramedics

who bandaged wounded souls

They too entered a battle field

Burning still from fiery coals

We'll tell of flight ninety-eight

With a stearn heart of steel

And how they fought their hi-jackers

How proud their families must feel

America was hit that day

yet we stand strong and tall

it takes more than terrorists

to overtake us all

Now our guard is up

Our colors bright and true

We'll all bravely fight for

The Red, White and Blue

Reviews and comments requested

dmblanck@cooke.net
Posted 09/28/2002