To The Four Winds

 

I was with you when you died ………Dad
When you took your last breath
Then you left me all alone………Dad
Gave up, accepting death
Now Mam and your eight children………Dad
Are gathered around your bed
You left us far too soon………Dad
We can’t believe your dead

Perhaps we’ll awake tomorrow………Dad
To find we dreamt it all
In truth we know we won’t………Dad
Now you’ve answered God’s call
We’ll all miss you forever………Dad
You went without a fuss
Now that you’re in heaven………Dad
Watch over all of us

Over twenty years now gone ………Dad
Since you went up to heaven
Your middle son has joined you………Dad
So now we’re down to seven
Mam won’t let either go………Dad
Both ashes by her bed
It comforts her both being there………Dad
Till she too lays her head



I wasn’t with you when you died………Mam
In that place they called a home
I tried to keep you from there……… Mam
But it was out of my control
You looked after eight………Mam
But when you needed us
We put you in that home……..Mam
To die without a fuss

Your son had passed away………Mam
No blame can pass to him
He looked after you………Mam
Till his lights too went dim
So we kept up with our visits………Mam
To your room just ten feet square
But when our time was up ………Mam
You were left to sit and stare

I wanted to carry on………Mam
Looking after you at home
But others found it hard………Mam
For reasons of their own
Good reasons I am sure ………Mam
None of us were fit and well
Did we give in too easy ………Mam
Too late now, who can tell

For a few grief turned to anger………Mam
Once your wish list was read
You kept it from most of us………Mam
Until you were dead
Was the way you shared things out………Mam
The way you shared your love
With six of us the same………Mam
And one placed well above

You drove a wedge between us………Mam
And left us wondering why
You set one above the others………Mam
No matter how we try
If this was your measure………Mam
Of your love for all the rest
You’ve shown us all quite clearly………Mam
Who you thought was the best

Can you understand………Mam
Why we feel so hurt
You made us feel second best………Mam
And rubbed us in the dirt
I’ve no anger for the one………Mam
You chose above the rest
It’s not her fault you loved her more………Mam
Although we’ve always guessed

I’m full of mixed emotions………Mam
As to your reasons why
But I’ll scatter You, Dad, and my brother……..Mam
With perhaps a tear in my eye
The hurt will wear off in time………Mam
We’ll forgive and we’ll forget
You thought we all deserved it……..Mam
So we’ve something to regret


To scatter three together………Dad
That was her final wish
Now that day’s arrived………Dad
With three of you to miss
We chose April 11th………Dad
The anniversary
Of the day that you were wed………Dad
To be scattered by just three

Youngest girl and eldest boy………Dad
And your grandson too
We climbed the mountain high………Dad
With this last deed to do
We never said a prayer……..Dad
With a tear in our eyes
We sent three to the four winds………Dad
And said our last goodbye’s


Her grandson scattered Mam, Bro
Our sister scattered Dad
It was I who scattered you, Bro
My choice and I was glad
You stayed at home with Mam and Dad, Bro
When we all flew the nest
You nursed Mam when Dad died, Bro
‘Til you were laid to rest

If Mam had gone before you, Bro
Leaving all to you
There’s no doubt you were the best, Bro
No hurt would have ensued
I’m ashamed of how I feel, Bro
That’s why I’ve written it down
To bury it somewhere, Bro
Stop carrying it around

Put the hurt I feel behind me, Bro
And get on with my life
Not dwell on what has happened, Bro
That cut me like a knife
My family is all around me, Bro
So I’ll spend what’s left of life
With my children, and their children, Bro
And a best friend that’s my Wife

End of.