This last good bye

To my father (Paul Eugenie Pop) who has such a short time left to live. You gave me life and inspired me to live. You made the part of me that that grows everyday.

This last good bye

 

 

Upon the ashes of dreams and deeds,

lies my dearest friend…

my father.

 

Upon the memories of his life,

hope remains.

 

He was not a man large in life,

but he was larger than life.

 

Life showed through his eyes in the way he spoke,

gentle was his hand when it could have been strong,

strong was his hand with compassion.

 

Across my memories of him,

I see what he tried to teach me,

I hear the lessons in his breath.

 

Now his road has ended,

softly as the first springs wind,

gently as the summers breeze.

 

 Dear father,

through the springtime of your life,

you learned how the stars can shine so bright.

 

Through the summer of your life you learned,

that the stars can be touched.

 

Upon the winter of your life,

our hearts are warmed by the wisdom of your words and deeds,

and your collections of stars.

 

Your passing will leave a great space to be filled.

 

Let your spirit soar over the hills,

through the valleys,

and softly caress the shores of our dreams.

 

You have been in places you never knew you visited,

nor dreamed you ever would touch.

 

But with each generation they will know you more and more,

with each breath they will learn to be strong.

 

Gentle is your hand that will shape their lives,

softly given wisdom will guide them through the trials and tribulations of their lives.  

 

And to the sea they will grow and grow.

 

Let no man nor woman,

say that you were less than a hero.

 

As night falls on this day,

the whip-poor-will will sing your song,

as the stars will make space for a new one that will shine this night.

 

We will travel through life with three sets of foot prints,

one is ours, the other yours,

and the third behind us is God's.

 

Dear father,

your whispered words shall forever guide us,

along the trails of the life that we travel.

 

Though you are not here in body,

your spirit is stronger in the wind that whispers in our ear,

stronger than you could ever know.

 

To the sea and beyond I will travel to be with you,

in this life and the next.

 

Let the snowflake of your spirit,

brush my soul and make it whole.

 

Let the memories of your life,

make the hearth of future generation,

glow beyond the fading sky.

 

To this road you have laid before me,

I might falter,

I might lose sight of it,

I may lose my way.

 

But I will find my way,

with your guiding light.

Author's Note

Reviews

[Eleanor]

This is a beautiful piece of writing!
A great tribute to someone not famous but the best for his own son. The best way in which we can see love is our parents love. Their words filled with wisdom are so valuable. We may fail in life but they are always there to guide us. Sometimes while growing up we forget that they are growing old too. I can feel your love and respect towards him.
Stay strong! :)

[ron]

Thank you. He is and always will be the corner stone of my life.

[Stephanie M]

Your poem is beautifully written. There is nothing more difficult in life, than grieving the loss of a loved one.

[ron]

Thank you. He is still with us but I'm not sure for how much longer.

[Stephanie M]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[ron]

Thank you..

[TL Boehm]

what a lovely tribute to your father. I lost my dad almost seven years ago.

[Ivory'lee]

This is beautiful, I too just lost my father so it touched my heart and made my eyes fill to the brim with tears of joy.

[maxine]

I meant I loved your poem it was beatuful

[ron]

Thank you maxine. That means a lot to me.

[maxine]

I cried I know how it feels I really loved your phone it was interesting and inspiring

[Kim]

Sounds like a beautiful memory :) I really like this, there it so much heart in it!

[ron]

Thank you Kim. Yes and he is still inspiring things in my life. Thankfully he is still with us.

[Sharon L.H. Kelly]

What a beautiful tribute to your father. I love how you took us through the seasons of his life. An excellent piece, Ron.

[ron]

Thank you Sharon.

[...]

What a gift to have such a wonderful memory, dear poet. This is so heartfelt. A beautiful tribute!

[ron]

Thank you very much lynn, you are very kind.

[ron]

Thank you lynn.

[Kasey Miriam]

A beautiful and stunning tribute. He sounds like a great man.
Wonderful poem full if respect and love

[ron]

Thank you Kasey. He is a very great man.

[SmittyJas]

Oh What a loving tribute to your beloved Father. May many generations learn the lessons here written the love shared between Father and Son and Family Stronger bonds could not be forged from the hearth this is solid steel a open of granted rock. One for the memory books to take a peek back and look at what a perfect relationship should be between Father and family. Great Writings.

[ron]

Thank you.
Thankfully he is still with us.