Featured

The Older Dad

I won't always be around, my son
to watch and see you grow,
to help guide your forward march
and be your 'steady' as you go.

For I am an old dad, my son
and may be gone before your star rises
to its undoubted potential
and you collect life's waiting prizes.

I am sometimes sad my son
for how much of your life I'll miss
but to know you this far
would be any dad's greatest wish.

Year 2000

Impotence

I have a daughter who is ill
and she is also very sad.
She looks to me to help her
because I am her dad.

Dad's fix everything don't they?
Isn't that why they are there?
To stand and fight and win
like a powerful great Brown Bear.

I would like to fix things for her
to shield her from this storm.
Take all the blows and pain away
and return life to her norm.

But her adversary is mighty
it stalks her day and night,
won't let her eat to live her life
and her big dad mourns in fright.

This caring parent looks on helplessly
so wishing he could do more,
she is drowning in a deep sea while
Counsellors' advise her from the shore.

Blackberries

She's in her twenties now and still she comes
and gives her dad a week.
The two of us together play
beside a muddy creek.

Not much to do, but that's the point
and she's forsaken her Uni spires
to walk and sail, talk and bike, and
toast marshmallows on driftwood fires.

We have our traditions which started
when she was only three,
one is picking blackberries
to make a crumble for our tea.

Blackberries fat and juicy
picked on a calm and sunny day
from hidden seaward bushes
by a gently flooding Bay.

Then the race back to base
with Tesco bags red and bleeding.
Wash out the salt and maggots
start the pastry mix kneading.

The oven seems to take an age
before the fruit and crust is done,
the happy anticipation is 
shared by we two, as one.

A simple pleasure has been shared
in this yearly interlude,
a missing year's relationship
is once again renewed.

She's in her twenties now and still she comes
and gives her dad a week.
The two of us together play
beside a muddy creek.

20th July 2002

Bible Story

In an old dirty street
On an evening so mild
The salesman bought a Bible
For his little child.

With an olive wood cover
Pages edged in gold
Both testaments within it 
For his 5 year old.

"I've got a picture Bible Dad":
She had shyly said
"But I would really like
A proper one instead."

So moved by a sense of occasion
For that's the way I am 
I bought my child a Bible
From a book shop in Jerusalem.

A clammy evening in Old Jerusalem and a Book Shop is open. It seemed the right time to buy a Bible.