A Silent Fortress

This is the first poem I had ever written about family. It is about my Dad and unfortunately other than the copy I printed off my printer, he never got to see got to see it published. I sent it to him when I realized some time had gone by since we last

For Reynold ‘Reine’ Hartman

1929-2003

 

 

I Never Knew Why Dad’s Had To Be Strong,

With A Strength To Endure All That Life Brings Along,

No Matter How Good, Bad Or Wrong,

They Always Seem To Go Long.

 

Dad’s Can Be Both Quiet Or Loud,

A Good Combination To Have Around,

Whether Being A Needed Clown,

Or Just A Hand When You’re Down.

 

My Dad Was Always Both,

Old Days That I Miss The Most,

He Taught Me To Joke,

And The Meaning Of Work.

 

With A Stubbornness That I’ve Acquired,

He Never Gave In To What Others Desired,

It Was Always What Was Required,

That Set A Standard That Never Grew Tired.

 

Sometimes Wishing We Had Taken More Time To Talk,

Gone Fishing Or Taken A Walk,

And Taken Those Times To Say I Love You A Lot,

Instead Of Missing All Those Times We Never Got.

 

Dad, You Passed On Your Good Looks,

Which I Took All That I Could,

As Well As The Courage It Took,

To Show Me A Man That Gets My Respect, As He Should.

 

I’ve Always Seen You Stay A Little Back,

Always There, Just In The Distance,

With A Quiet Love That Will Eternally Last,

As Strong As A Silent Fortress.

 

I Hope With All My Heart,

That I Can Pick Up What You Start,

By Taking All Your Good Parts,

To Make You Proud By Using Your Smarts,

And Show The World How Much You’re In My Heart.

 

So, This Is For All The Times We’ve Missed,

All The Times I Wished We Hugged,

And Like The Italians, Cheeks That Should Have Been Kissed,

Here’s A Great Big Thanks Dad, I Love You,

 

 

 

July 18, 2003

@Bradley S. Hartman

 

 

 

Author's Note

Just be honest, my poems are written from the heart and so should your reviews

Reviews

[Rambling Prose]

This is a beautiful tribute to your father & one that I'm sure he'd certainly be proud of. Heartfelt poems are the ones that most inspire & truly, the only writes worth reading. I for one, enjoyed reading this one as it left me with a sense of appreciation.

~lovely sentiments~