Today . the 26th of April . my daddy would be 98 years old. But we remember instead with thoughts, love and laughter.

This POEM, is such a true representation of a small part of who he was and how we loved him. Mother and I miss him everyday.

DADDYS PLAYGROUND

An old green colored shed tops a makeshift work area
That once was a housing unit for my brothers’ cage of birds
Snakes and such.
Now it is filled with various sized bolts;
Some of which even the same size maybe totally different
For the need…
The aged fingers reach for yet another.
The area is covered with wheels, handles and motors.
The smell of gas and oil is sometimes nauseating.
But from sun-up to sun-down…with a few short breaks in-between
We can always find
Daddy
Tinkering with lawnmowers…edger’s
Sharpening blades
Unclogging fuel lines
Replacing wheels
All of which have yet a few good blades to cut
The fingers work tediously long hours
While sitting on a stool –
Comprised of an old bucket with a board on top
Finished product…
A labor of love and frustration thrown in
Here and there
They’re wheeled out to the road, curb side
With a sign – for sale –
And the waiting begins.
But the ages fingers reach for yet another to conquer
With his loyal companion at his feet,
His dog sable
Daddy begins the task that will yet continue
To fulfill his hours under the old green colored
Shed searching fingers reaching to find the
Right tools and bolts to
Sharpen blades
Unclog fuel lines
Replace wheels
Sitting on the short stool …. The bucket and board.
Until the setting sun brings a dinner call from Mother
We know where we can find daddy
In his playground
With wheels and blades of steel.

This represents, Daddy, Mother and myself… the three of us. When daddy left. We miss Daddy Everyday.