Heartfelt Life

Sit down and I shall tell you of my father
A thoughtful man, humble and hard working
Read his Bible often as he should
His heart was filled with love for his family

I had always said that he would work until the day he dies
Though I am not a prophet or the son of a prophet
My words proved true when he set his tools
At the feet of Vulcan and gave his heart to God

I was busy elsewhere running errands
The sad word came late to me
I saved my tears as the eldest son
Though my heart was heavy with loss

We gathered around his body
A drop of blood on the floor as a sign
That mortal men had tried in vein and
In vain to save him, his heart attacked

I was looking for a handle on reality
As mother wept and the rest stood silently
I placed my hand on his cold forehead
I didn’t have the heart to ask God to bring him back

How long he had lived and how much he had loved
His life’s work complete and no promises now to keep
He had loved us well though we’d wish for still more
With grateful heart we laid him to rest

Now with time’s soothing balm we can smile and remember
All the good that was my father’s life, the tremendous love of his wife
Who still talked to him often and cried twelve more years
Her broken heart never healed, only death had stopped her tears

I went to see them laying side-by-side
I contemplated life not looking for a sign
But two doves took flight and together flew away
My heart content that somewhere their spirits were still joined in love