Dad

It's coming up on the 15th anniversary of my dad's passing. He's the guy on the far right in the photo above. He piloted that shot-up C-47 back to England after dropping troops into heavy fighting somewhere over Europe in 1944.

He's been on my mind a lot lately, so I thought I'd post the poem I wrote for him.

DAD
By Nan Jacobs © 2002

Dad I wish I knew
all that you went through.
Tall and quiet, you held within
your boyhood joys and carefree days,
friends, and Fords, and bright tomorrows;
a war… and peace… and countless sorrows.

I'm only now beginning
to understand how much
within the Dad who loved us
breathed a man who dreamed and such.

I can't speak of what molded you-
the "Dad" we never knew-
I only know what sculpted us;
it's thanks to you we grew.

You taught compassion, open minds,
and moral decency;
honesty, respect for all,
responsibility.

Dad, I hope you knew
in us some dreams came true.
Precious freedom to be "us",
creating our own stories
of love and dogs and bright tomorrows,
and not too many sorrows.